KARACHI, July 23: In the absence of adequate medical facilities at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, the poor patients are highly dependent on NGOs and philanthropists for their treatment.

The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that a large number of patients brought to emergency, are shifted to the ward by attendants or duty staff on their hands as the hospital lacks stretchers and wheel-chairs to shift patients to the main building.

Dr. Saqib Khan, President of the Help of Patients in Exigency by Students (HOPES), an NGO established by students of Karachi Medical and Dental College (KMDC) for the welfare of patients, said: “So far, the HOPES has spent Rs3.3 million for provision of medical services to patients, including medicines, blood transfusion, diagnostic facilities and provision of medical and surgical accessories.

He informed that owing to non-provision of any medical facility, HOPES has emerged as the only hope for needy patients, visiting the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

The association was formed in 1995 by KMDC students, following complaints from patients and after observing their pathetic plight, especially when a patient died on the spot owing to non-availability of a life-saving injection worth Rs5 only, he disclosed.

Presently, members of HOPES, who all study at the KMDC in various classes, collect donations, Zakat, hides and arrange festivals to generate money for provision of medical facilities to the needy and deserving patients, he further said.

According to him, the main area of their service is the drug bank and through it, they supply all sorts of medicine and other medical supplies, in all wards of hospital. Supply of medicine is linked with a formal request or recommendation by the doctor, attending the patient, who refers the patient to HOPES, he added.

“At present, the organization is facing shortage of funds, however, we are planning to establish a well-equipped blood bank, a free T.B treatment programme and availability of free diagnostic facilities to the suffering humanity,” he maintained.

In addition, HOPES has also planned to purchase stretchers and wheel-chairs to facilitate easy movement of patients from one ward to another and from ambulances to emergency ward, he said.

Dr. Saqib appealed to the people and officials of the City District Government to display some interest in welfare of patients and come forward to help suffering humanity.—PPI