KARACHI, Oct 18: Two ambulances of the Sindh Government Hospital Ibrahim Hyderi are lying out of order for seven years and no attempt has been made by the concerned health department officials to get them repaired.

The apathy on the part of the officials has resulted in the absence of an essential emergency service to the patients in dire need of transport means to receive urgent medical aid at some hospital.

Medical Superintendent Dr Amna Zafar of the Ibrahim Hyderi hospital revealed that the two ambulances (EX-3352 and EA-0218) had been provided to the hospital in 1983 and 1992, respectively, but after developing some mechanical faults, both of them had to be grounded in 1997. Since then, the vehicles were lying out of order.

She said that the matter was brought to the knowledge of MPA Mehmood Alam Jamote who came forward and pledged to get one of the ambulances repaired at his own expenses. Accordingly, the vehicle, EA-0218, was sent to a workshop some five months back. Its return from the workshop duly repaired was still awaited, she said.

"The second ambulance, however, is still lying dumped as the estimate for its repair comes up to Rs0.25 million owing to multiple faults," she added.

"All our communication with the health department in this regard had fallen on deaf ears until only a month back when a senior official heeded our call and advised us to send the ambulance to health department," she said.

The MS pointed out that the funds required for the repair of ambulances was not being provided to the hospital. The ambulances requiring some repair, she added, had to be sent to the department which pursued a very lengthy process involving tenders, bids, etc.

The Ibrahim Hyderi hospital provides healthcare to some 0.2 million population of Bin Qasim Town and adjoining villages. An average 400-500 patients visit OPD every day whereas the hospital has an admission facility for 15 patients. Majority of the beneficiaries is fishermen community which comprised very poor families.

Dr Amna Zafar pointed out that the health department had recently provided 18 ambulances to various hospitals in the city but it ignored Ibrahim Hyderi hospital which was in dire need of this essential service for the poor population of this locality. -PPI