KARACHI, Oct 16: Perturbed at the deteriorating services at the Civil Hospital Karachi, Sindh minister for health Syed Sardar Ahmad has convened a meeting of the relevant quarters on Thursday to help improve the conditions.

Requesting not to be named, an official in the health department says the hospital, which was a district-level healthcare facility about 110 years ago, enjoys the status of a teaching hospital, with about 1,670 beds, but has failed to improve hygienic conditions, water and electricity supplies, sewerage or maintenance.

Although the government has installed a board of governors for good governance and solution of the hospital’s problems, including construction and maintenance works and appointment of lower grade staff at the local level, the hospital is a picture of neglect, the official added.

Sources said the minister on Tuesday evening visited the emergency section of the hospital to inquire after the health of people who had been injured in road accidents and brought to the CHK. However, he failed to get any good impression of the situation and returned highly disgusted, said an insider.

When contacted by Dawn, the health minister said he had visited the CHK frequently during the last few weeks and basing on his observations and what he witnessed in the form of patient handling and facilities, he could say that things were in a mess. “I am really shocked by the affairs of the emergency section and can say that the situation at the hospital appeared absolutely horrible to me.”

He said one could see damp ceilings, water-soaked internal walls and stinking beds. He said the hospital should immediately explain the reasons behind the failure of sanitation, poor maintenance, and obsolete infrastructure.

Answering a question, he said he had got the impression that the appointment of the BoG had done nothing to reduce the routine sufferings of poor patients. Had the head and members of the BoG bothered to inspect various facilities and patients wards and taken action accordingly, the situation would have improved, he said, adding that adequate funds had been put at their disposal.

“Considering it a high time, I have called a meeting of the health officials concerned,” Mr Ahmad said.