KARACHI, July 24: Inappropriate distribution of human resources at the Civil Hospital, Karachi, is undermining the ongoing efforts to renovate, modernize and update the gadgetry facilities in its different wards.

Recent visits to numerous departments of hospital showed that although local philanthropists, in close coordination with the government, were more than keen to contribute to enhancing the capacity as well as services there, the non-availability of manpower was feared to severely affect the envisaged good.

Ironically, there appeared to be a rush of doctors and paramedics in certain departments and wards, where patients load was generally found to be low, whereas wards such as paediatrics, gynae and obstetrics and orthopaedics were short of staff.

There was a shortage of sweepers and guards, leading to unchecked filth and movement of relatives and friends of admitted patients, casting a negative impact on the general environment of the ward. Doctors and nurses were also unavailable, particularly in night shifts, as there was little provision to substitute them on their days off.

The presence of fresh medical graduates undergoing their house-jobs could not be considered a practicable option as emergencies could be reported any time.

Prof Noshad A Shaikh, medical superintendent of the CHK, talking to APP on Wednesday, attributed the situation to a shortage of workforce at the hospital.

“There are 120 posts of paramedics, including those of sweepers, lying vacant at CHK,” he said, adding that against a requirement of 500 nurses there were only 200 working in the 2,000-bed hospital.

About the non-availability of highly qualified medical professionals, the medical superintendent maintained that except in the maxillo-facial department and vascular surgery department, there was no dearth of qualified professionals.

He admitted that the situation had rendered the two departments non-functional for quite some time.

According to him, it was only that 50 per cent of these senior staffers were currently on leave that an artificial shortage was being felt. Approval of leave for these senior professionals, belonging to teaching faculty of Dow Medical College, was said to be beyond his authority.

Giving a breakup of posts available in different grades, Prof Sheikh said against 112 posts in grade 17, some 99 doctors were working in excess. There were 260 posts in grade 18. Twenty of the 80 posts in grade 19 were said to be lying vacant and only two doctors were working in grade 20.

The total number of posts available in grade 17 to grade 20 was said to be 513. The scenario, the MS of the Civil Hospital, who earlier denied dearth of experts in medical field, said was reflective of a constant exodus of qualified and experienced professionals for greener pastures.

To a question, he supported the need for an adequate honorarium for postgraduate medical students seeking hands-on training in different departments respectively and also provision to streamline the process of promotion and postings.—APP