August 7, 2003

A rare example of community policing in Karachi proves that there is hope. Text and photos by Dr Behrouz Hashim & M.M. Alam

Karachiites would agree that five decades down the road police high handedness continues. But, atypical instances provide a flicker of hopefulness for the future. Six years ago, to lessen the people to police gap in the most dangerous district (Central) of Pakistan, a free dispensary was commenced in a portion of the Superintendent’s residence within the Nazimabad Police Station. The SP facilitated transformation of the entire accommodation into a hospice, which is now called Police Public Hospital (PPH).

To ensure continuity, only the neighbouring masses were motivated and no help was accepted from the government. Doctors of the community were requested to run this venture; as a result a number of dedicated highly qualified surgeons, anesthetists, dentists, eye-specialists and general practitioners volunteered. Aged between 35-50, they come from the area’s middle-middle working and landed class.

People chipped in to make the venture a success. A well-to-do minibus operator donated the computer (which is used to maintain a comprehensive record of patients, medicines and donations), lamps and plastic sheets came from various exporters, a religious scholar presented an air conditioner, notables of the area who have gifted equipments (like Ultra-Sound and X-Ray Machines etc) have also been supplying some medicines. Since many individuals gave away small things, interestingly the assorted pieces of furniture, curtains and even teacups are of different shapes, sizes and hues.

While most of the 32 beds were provided by Imam Clinic and Mumtaz Hospital (North Nazimabad) and Dar-us-Sehat (Gulistan-e-Jauhar), a few beds were handed over by neighbours when their parents who were using them expired. Locals collected money to get male and female wards built; Dr Baqai provided equipments for General Surgery while Dr Mohammad Ali Shah helped in the Eye Treatment/Operation set-up. Tiles worth Rs100,000 were required for each theatre, and they were gladly supplied by the local Sanitary Merchant Association. Currently two lady dentists are busy establishing a dentistry unit voluntarily.

There are three ambulances and for a surgeon to reach the patient as soon as possible there is a chauffeur for a Suzuki, which was donated by the Mujahid Colony Trust in the neighbourhood. Another ambulance, a Fiat purchased for PPH by the residents of the district, is being converted into a mobile operation theatre.

The hospital’s OPD treats about 250 people a day. Since police quarters are located in Garden and Ranchore Lines mainly, only 10 per cent of the PPH patients are from police families. With the help of its founder Dr Safdar Hussain, PPH has spread its wings by opening six clinics in police stations of the labourers’ katchi abadis, where altogether some 600 patients are taken care of daily. It is important to note that in such localities lesser people-police friction is witnessed.

One other advantage of such units is that they readily accept medico-legal cases. After initial treatment, if needed, patients are recommended to Abbasi Shaheed, Baqai or A.O. Clinic. Due to its rapport with these medical institutes, patients sent by PPH and its satellites are given urgent, exceptional and gratis treatment. Many other distinguished consultants of the metropolis too, including skin specialist Dr Faiz, treat PPH patients without charging them.

To reach out further and expand its services, PPH arranges a 25 room camp in far-flung locales every fortnight, which are attended by thousands. Dozens of surgeries are performed; Essa Lab and PPH establish full-fledged testing facilities, ophthalmologists check eyes and direct operation cases to PPH and general physicians perform examinations and give medicines. Since no fee is charged this huge enterprise only costs Rs4000.

Baqai Hospital’s surgeon Masood Ahmed and his team commenced General Surgery at PPH in July 2002 and have performed 600 major operations since then. They distribute their time between their practices and voluntary work. It is made sure that the hospital is never out of beds, as soon as occupancy exceeds 25 patients, reinforcement is called and the number of daily surgeries is tripled.

Thankfully due to the voluntary services rendered by surgeons, patients only need to cover the medicine bills (which are hardly five per cent of the prevailing prices). For example an operation for the removal of gall bladder stone which costs Rs25,000 is carried out for less then Rs1,500. Consequently, not only the inhabitants of the surroundings benefit, those suffering from grave ailments (including elephantitis) come from remote areas like Hyderabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Larkana and Dadu etc.

The hospital’s main expenditure is drugs; when cash is available bulk purchases are made from Katchi Gali to save 30 per cent. While PPH provides Rs50,000 worth of free medicines per month, its six slum area clinics’ monthly requirement is Rs10,000 to 15,000 each for medicine and Rs3,000 to Rs4,000 each for other expenses. The hospital maintains a permanent strength of six doctors with another six available on call. Most of the helping staff too are volunteers. There are two male and three female nurses, two lab technicians and OD technicians.

Fortunately Hussain Asghar a competent officer, (former UN peacekeeper who had worked as President Nelson Mandela’s Human Rights Investigator in South Africa) has been managing the project.

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