THATTA, June 18: Sudden transfers of three specialists have led to closure of cardiac, surgical and paediatrics wards in Makli Civil Hospital, shrinking further medical facilities for poor patients who already have to make do with below standard treatment in public health institutions.
Sources in the health department disclosed that the three positions that fell vacant after sudden transfers had been temporarily filled by junior medical officers and under-training paramedics.
Civil Surgeon and Medical Superintendent Dr Lal Mir Shah Shirazi confirmed transfers of Surgeon Mustafa Memon, Cardiologist Dr Nazir Memon and Paediatrician Dr Fazal Khumbati.
Dr Mustafa Memon, who was carrying out surgeries and managing surgical ward I and II, had been promoted and transferred to Hyderabad, leading to closure of 28-bed surgical ward-I, he said, adding that ward-II was now being supervised by Dr Amanullah Mugheri.
Dr Shirazi said that 14-bed cardiology ward had to be closed after transfer of cardiologist Dr Nazir Memon and as a stopgap arrangement, a junior medical officer had been assigned the job to take over post of paediatrician, which fell vacant after transfer of Dr Fazal Khumbati. Nine-bed ICU and emergency ward had also been put under the control of under-training paramedics, he said.
Mehmood Bhambhro, a representative of Paramedics Association, Thatta chapter, blamed that negligence on part of EDO of health and civil surgeon, for unhygienic conditions, non-supply of medicine and ill-management, which had messed up things in the hospital and disappointed poor patients.
He said that a handful of departments were functioning in a proper manner while most of the departments were poorly administered and being run without their heads.
He alleged that MS Dr Shirazi had recently reshuffled paramedics including technical staff, directing them to report to Director General, EDO office. He had them transferred to far-flung rural areas, he alleged.
Leaders of civil society have urged the government to rectify affairs of the hospital and take action against ghost staff.
Established in 1957, the Civil Hospital caters to the needs of over 500 patients in the OPD and 80 to 90 indoor patients daily. It has a staff of 50 doctors, 100 paramedics and only one surgeon.
The district has in addition nine rural health centres, 50 basic health units and 19 dispensaries to provide health facilities to a population of over 1.2 million.