THATTA: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members of the National and Sindh assemblies and the party’s Thatta and Sujawal districts’ leadership have written to Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Health Minister Azra Pechuho to resume and expand public-private partnership ventures in health sector considering the “achievements” of the Medical Emergency Resilience Foundation (MERF).

In their individual representations, MNA Shams-un-Nisa Memon, Deputy Speaker in the Sindh Assembly Rehana Leghari, MPA Jam Awais Gohram Jokhio and PPP Thatta and Sujawal district presidents Sadiq Ali Memon and Mohammad Ali Malkani, respectively, pointed out that the public-private partnership ventures in health sector had achieved significant success since 2016.

They noted a marked improvement in health services, environment at health facilities and availability of required machinery, equipment, gadgets etc at hospitals adopted by the private managements. They also pointed out that the ventures provided additional employment opportunities to several hundred local people, including doctors, paramedics and other support staff, janitorial workers etc.

They reminded the CM and health minister that the five-year contract of the private partner was expiring on Aug 18 and the provincial government seemed to be inclined to continue with the arrangement but little time was left for the procedural formalities like inviting fresh expression of interest and finalising a fresh contract. They feared the formalities could cause a break in the continuing services at the 13 health facilities of Thatta and Sujawal districts.

It was pointed out that the gap between expiry and new contract might result in the withdrawal of around 500 medical professionals and support staff from these health facilities, which was bound to affect the general public.

The health facilities feared to be affected are the DHQ (district headquarter) hospital at Makli, Shaikh Zayed taluka hospital at Mirpur Sakro, rural health centres in Jherruck, Jungshahi, Var, Gharo, Baghan and Keti Bandar in Thatta; and taluka hospitals at Sujawal, Jati and Mirpur Bathoro and rural health centres in Chuhar Jamali and Darro in Sujawal district.

The PPP leaders suggested that continuation of this public-private partnership venture be ensured until a fresh contract with any private partner came into effect.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2021