KARACHI, Nov 15: Following the completion of repairs at the gynaecology and obstetrics department, the Civil Hospital Karachi’s administration has provided an additional operating table to the emergency unit as demanded by the doctors posted at the department. Efforts are also under way to meet other genuine demands of the doctors, who have been protesting for some weeks against the poor working and hygienic conditions at the department, according to the administration. It said that the elective surgery unit would be made functional at the earliest.

CHK Additional Medical Superintendent Dr Yasmeen Kharal stated some equipment had already been provided and a request had been forwarded for major apparatus like operating tables, autoclave, anesthesia machines, ceiling lights with a camera, etc. She expressed the hope that the apparatus would be provided to the department in January next.

Referring to the improved hygienic conditions, she said the doctors’ complaint about quality of earlier repairs was also removed, adding that although more work was required to be carried out to strengthen the ceiling and make it waterproof, there was no question of sewage or water leakage now as overhead water tanks had been removed from the upper floor.

She said “the public works department has informed us that there are no more funds available for this purpose so the work has been suspended temporarily.” She said that negotiations with the in-charge of the new OT complex were also under way to make arrangements for surgeries at the complex until the elective unit was fully upgraded.

At the emergency unit, 40 to 50 patients were being attended daily, she said.

The protesting doctors, meanwhile, expressed their concern over the delay in addressing the problems and demanded that immediate measures be taken to reopen the elective unit.