KARACHI, Feb 3: A delegation of World Health Organization, headed by Dr Ferdinand Siem Tjam, Advisor on Referral Systems, WHO Headquarters, Geneva, visited Civil Hospital, Karachi here Monday.

The delegation held a detailed discussion with the CHK Medical Superintendent, Dr Naushad Ahmed Sheikh and his senior aides.

Dr Sheikh informed the delegation that the CHK was the country’s biggest providing best treatment, teaching, and training facilities. He pointed out that the hospital had a capacity of 1,860 beds in 39 departments and around 4,000 employees including medical, nursing, paramedical and support staff.

The WHO team was informed that some 600 full time resident doctors, 400 post-graduate students, 400 house officers and 350 consultants were working at the hospital.

Mr Sheikh said that 60 per cent of the hospital’s Rs140 million recurrent budget is meant for salaries. Two thousand OPD patients visit the hospital every day and they include an average of 500 emergency cases, he said adding that almost 100 patients were being admitted to different wards every day.

The MS pointed out that over the past two years, philanthropists and other organizations, including Dow Medical College Alumni, had donated Rs160 million for the developmental work as well as provision of different consumable commodities.

Dr Tjam, expressing his satisfaction over the performance of the hospital administration, impressed upon the hosts that if a proper referral system was in place, more than 60 per cent of the OPD patients could have availed medical assistance close to their homes enabling the tertiary care institution to concentrate only on the cases of serious nature that required highly specialized care.

He also advised the Casualty Incharge, Dr Tariq Kamal Ayubi, to document his extensive experience of dog-bite cases.

The WHO team visited the Emergency Department, Emergency Operation Theatre, Labour Room, Gynaecology Operation Theatre and the newly-constructed Burns Ward.

The delegation interacted with senior faculty members including Dr S. Akram, Dr Iqbal Memon and Dr Mabel Zaki.

—APP