KARACHI, March 13: About 36 health units in the city have been experiencing a shortage of staff, essential medical equipment and medicines owing to the non-approval of SNE (schedule for new expenditure) as required by the Sindh government. The units are feared to be closed down if timely action is not taken.

Informed sources in the city government said that administrative and financial affairs of these health units have become very hard to manage due to the non-allocation of required funds. No fresh recruitment has been made against the minimum staff requirement at these facilities.

These health units are currently in the administrative control of the CDGK's Health Department, but sanctioning of the SNE is still in the purview of the provincial government.

The official said that a number of summaries had already been submitted to the relevant provincial department but a response was still awaited.

At present, only 271 health units of the CDGK are allocated funds from the annual budget and the city government provides some funds from the budget specified for the sanctioned health units to ensure functioning of the non-sanctioned units, most of which are located in the low-income group areas. Funding in this way ultimately creates financial problem and shortage of staff at the sanctioned units.

Among the non-sanctioned health facilities are two major hospitals - North Karachi Children Hospital and Landhi Medical Complex - which are running short of funds and staff.

"The Sindh government in the past had been pledging provision of adequate staff, equipment and medicines to the hospitals but its commitment is yet to be fulfilled," the CDGK official said, adding that in spite of repeated complaints about lack of proper facilities and medicines, the CDGK remained helpless in taking remedial measures due to the provincial government's positive response.

He regretted that the crippled health units had become an extra burden on the CDGK's Health Department which, he indicated, was already in very feeble condition due to its meagre resources. which does not fall under its control.

The facilities which require immediate attention of the provincial government are: Urban Health Unit (UHU) Azam Basti (Saddar Town), UHU Chanesar Goth (Jamshaid Town), UHU Saleh Mohammad Goth (Bin Qasim Town) Extension of Sindh General Hospital (Liaquatabad Town), Extension of Sindh General Hospital (Korangi Town), 50-bed hospital (Shah Faisal Town), Sindh General Hospital (New Karachi Town), Government Dispensary Ali Mohammad Goth (Gadap Town), Government Dispensary Mauripur (Keamari Town), Government Dispensary Old Thano, Government Dispensary adjacent to Safari Park, Children Hospital (North Nazimabad Town), UHU Babar Market (Landhi Town), Qatar Hospital (Orangi Town), Government Dispensary Qalandrani Goth (Gadap Town), Government Dispensary Garaz Village, Government Dispensary Bath Island (Keamari Town), Government Dispensary Sultanabad, Government Dispensary Bilal Colony, Government Dispensary All Bux Himayti Village (Bin Qasim Town), Government Dispensary Gabol Goth, Basic Health Unit Sajjan Colony (Baldia Town), Government Dispensary Jaffar Tayyar (Malir Town), Government Dispensary Majeed Colony (Landhi Town), BHU Baba Bhit Island (Keamari Town), BHU Paposh Nagar (North Nazimabad Town), Government Dispensary Amar-i-Yasir Society and Government Dispensary Shaif Colony (Malir Town). -PPI