KARACHI, June 9: The Sindh Government Hospital, Korangi, one of the busiest health care facilities in the city with an estimated daily turnout of 1,500 to 2,000 patients at its OPDs, is facing great difficulty due to unavailability of significant diagnostic facilities. It is not only that there exists no provision for ultrasound, bronchi-scopic machines and microscopes, but one of the two X-rays machines at the hospital is also out of order since long. The only working 100 ma X-ray machine is largely unable to meet requirements, which again is simply restricted to bone and chest X-rays.
The EDO Health, Dr Khalid Sheikh, during his visit to the hospital on Thursday was informed that since an X-Ray machine of 300 ma had broken down, a number of procedures, which were highly significant, could not be performed.
The EDO while assuring a quick repair of the machine expressed his appreciation for the exemplary functioning of the dialysis unit, initiated with the support of expatriate Pakistanis.
The Medical Superintendent of the SGH, Dr Tariq Ehsan, while taking the EDO round the hospital informed him that the recurring expenditure for the dialysis unit along with provision for required medicines were borne by local philanthropists and expatriate Pakistanis.
Dr Sheikh, acknowledging the commitment of donors, suggested the need for encouraging them so that deficiencies could be duly met.
During his visit to the Chest Ward, the EDO Health personally observed the administration of drugs to the TB patients as part of the DOTS strategy.
He urged doctors as well as people in general to ensure that none of the TB patients was denied therapy, and also that the latter must not be allowed under any condition to leave the therapy half way.
The resurgence of TB is in itself a major issue in our country, he commented.
Taking a round of gynaecology ward, medical and the surgical units, Dr Sheikh observed that lack of diagnostic facilities was a major problem for doctors serving at the hospital.—APP
