KARACHI, Nov 22: Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro on Thursday paid a surprise visit to the Sindh Government Hospital at Korangi-5 and found a majority of doctors and paramedics absent from duty.

The governor, accompanied by the Nazim and the Naib Nazim of Karachi, Naimatullah Khan and Tariq Hasan, visited the Korangi Hospital on complaints by elected representatives of Landhi and Korangi Towns at the inauguration of a Bachat Bazar (fair price bazaar) in Korangi.

The governor upon entering the hospital was received by family members of the patients. They told him about the missing doctors and paramedics. Not a syringe could be issued to even the most deserving patient as the store-keeper was also absent.

Mohammedmian Soomro directed the Nazim of Karachi to look into the matter and directed Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan to present details to him on Friday.

Naimatullah Khan checked the attendance register which showed that eight doctors had to be present in the evening shift but only three were on duty. Similarly, only a few paramedical staff were present.

The doctors found absent were Dr Rehan, Dr Ashraf Siddiqui, Dr Naseem Ahmed Khan, Dr Wasim and Dr Raeesuddin Shaikh.

Not only during the evening shift but absenteeism among doctors and staff had been witnessed during the day shift also.

Naimatullah Khan asked for details from doctors and staff present there and found out that a total of 105 doctors were posted in Korangi hospital whereas 75 had to be on duty during the day shift, whereas a maximum of 25 were present usually.

Similarly most of the 240 paramedical staff posted in the hospital did not attend their duty regularly.

Naimatullah Khan directed the Nazim of Landhi Town, Mohammad Shahid, to regularly visit the Korangi Hospital to cross-check the attendance and standard of medical facilities provided to the patients. The Nazim of Landhi Town will submit a report to Naimatullah Khan in a week.

The patients present on the occasion complaint about the irresponsible attitude of the medical superintendent of the hospital.

This is one of the seven Sindh Government Hospitals (SGH) transferred to the City Government after the implementation of the devolution plan. The other hospitals are: SGH New Karachi, SGH Orangi Town, SGH Saudabad, SGH Liaquatabad, SGH Ibrahim Hyderi and SG Police Hospital.—APP