KARACHI, Feb 22: The 1,200-bed Jinnah Post-graduate Medical Centre has more than 1,000 doctors but only about 500 nurses. This was stated by the senior JPMC officials at a press conference here on Saturday.
Prof Qazi Abdul Shakoor, Director of the JPMC, Prof Nasir Khan Jakhrani and Dr Aleem Qadir said that only half of those engaged for nursing work were officially designated as staff nurses.
They acknowledged that the lopsided doctors to nurses and patients to nurses ratios caused innumerable problems for the hospital but added that its administration was taking the steps needed to right the wrong.
They said that of the hospital’s 74 acre land, about 20 had been encroached upon by land-grabbers. The city administration has already been apprised of the situation, they added.
“We have had several meetings with the City Nazim who is cooperating with us in this regard,” said Prof Abdul Shakoor. He claimed that about three acres of encroached land had since been recovered.
The JPMC director said his hospital’s revenue was Rs350 million. Answering a question, he said the hospital would be in a position to deliver services to all its patients free of charge if its revenue was doubled.
“Even though there’s no end to what we need, if the funds at our disposal are doubled we will manage to provide all the services to all our patients free of cost,” said Prof Abdul Shakoor. He said that the vacancies of 21 doctors and 200 paramedical staff were lying vacant.
The officials told newsmen how, since 1987, the hospital had taken giant strides in terms of treatment. In 1987, about 24,000 people had been admitted to the hospital. Last year the number had jumped to 37,000.
Fifteen years ago, just over 1.1 million people had been attended to in the hospital’s outpatient department. Last year the number had gone up to eight million, they said.
Back in 1987 a total of 22,000 operations had been performed at the hospital. In 2002, about 30,000 operations had been undertaken.
Prof Jakhrani said that the JPMC was going to hold its 40th annual symposium from Feb 25 to 28. The symposium would be inaugurated by the Governor of Sindh, Dr Ishratul Ibad. An exhibition will also be held during the event.
Dr Qadir said that several state-of-the-art lectures would be delivered by local experts.
In response to a question, he clarified that due to security considerations foreign delegates had not been invited.
