THE Abbasi Shaheed Hospital in Karachi, managed by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), lies in an appalling state. The hospital serves, or is supposed to serve, the impoverished and low-income communities of Central and West districts that have a population of close to five million, according to the latest national census.

The hospital has been suffering from chronic mismanagement, corruption and incompetence, resulting in its deplorable condition. There is a strong case for considering a public-private partnership to turn things around. The model has worked well at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi where the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) has demonstrated exemplary success in partnership with the government of Sindh. This collaboration has significantly enhanced healthcare services, setting a precedent for effective collaboration.

The PAF may consider taking the initiative by engaging with the KMC and the provincial government to assume the management of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital as well. If that happens, quality medical care may again become a possibility for the underserved communities.

Shoaib Siddiqui
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2024