KARACHI: A large number of poor patients with psychiatric illnesses have been facing a lot of inconvenience for the past many weeks as a mental health clinic providing them with free-of-cost services suddenly closed down.

A recent visit to the site located adjacent to OMI Hospital in the jurisdiction of the Karachi Cantonment Board showed that the clinic being operated on the ground floor of Rehman Plaza had to be closed down over concerns related to patient safety.

“Sewage leaking from the building for the past six months was a constant source of trouble for patients who used this passage for waiting as clinic rooms were small and some patients had to be seated outside,” explained Mr Nadeem, a clinic staff member.

Patient safety, he added, was also compromised by garbage thrown by residents living on the upper floors as the building did not have a proper waste collection system.

To tackle these issues, the clinic staff had placed a makeshift shade to provide protective cover to patients but it has also worn out recently.

“Since the building management didn’t show positive response to our complaints, an attempt was made to cover this passage with concrete material.

“The Cantonment Board staff, however, intervened and stopped workers from doing so on grounds that it’s a violation of their laws. There was no option but to close the clinic,” another clinic staff member said, adding that around 900 patients were registered with the health facility, most of whom were women.

Dawn also spoke to a few patients who arrived there for treatment from the interior of Sindh and Balochistan but found the clinic closed.

They were directed to go to the psychiatry wards of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital where doctors have been requested by the clinic staff to attend to them.

“Though the clinic didn’t charge me anything for providing consultancy and medicines to my ailing brother, I spent Rs2,000 on transport for commuting to Karachi from Lasbela,” said Alam, an attendant, expressing satisfaction over his brother’s improved health.

Najeeb, father of six who hailed from Sujawal, said he had been treated for depression at the clinic since 2012.

“I am much better now for which I am thankful to the doctors treating me for free. It would be a hassle, though, going to Jinnah or Civil hospitals as I know there would be too many patients. Besides, I won’t feel comfortable with new doctors,” he said.

Upon contact, Dr Haroon Ahmed, president of the Pakistan Association for Mental Health, who along with his team had been running the clinic for the past 16 years, said unhygienic conditions around the building posed serious risks to the health of patients.

“The Cantonment Board has also been approached over the issue and asked to grant special permission for construction of a temporary shade as means to provide protection to patients. But, there has been no positive response so far,” he said.

CEO Cantonment Board was not available for comments.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2017