KARACHI, Dec 30: The number of deaths at the Civil Hospital Karachi registered a nine per cent rise in the year 2002.

Well-placed sources told Dawn on Monday that in 2001 the number of deaths at the Civil Hospital Karachi had been 1,452. In 2002, they added, 1,583 people had lost their lives in the hospital.

They said that in 2002 the average number of deaths at the Civil Hospital Karachi had been 144, ranging between the maximum 163 in January and the minimum 131 in April and in May.

However, the sources said, the number of admissions had declined by nine per cent. “In 2001, the hospital had received 28,498 patients as admissions. In 2002, the number fell to 25,880.”

They said that the out-patient department of the Civil Hospital had treated 617,328 patients in 2001. “The workload at the out-patient department grew a lot as doctors treated 731,572 patients in 2002. August 2001 was the most hectic month for the Civil Hospital Karachi’s out-patient department when 76,321 patients visited it.”

They said the workload in the casualty department of the hospital had grown by over seven per cent over the past one year. “In 2001, the casualty department had received 171,160 patients while in 2002 the department received 184,002 patients.”

The sources said that the number of deliveries had also registered a 10.5 per cent rise. “In 2001, 3,734 babies were born on the premises of the Civil Hospital. The number increased to 4,132 in 2002. October 2002 was the most productive month for the hospital when 500 deliveries occurred at the hospital.”

Official sources said that quite a few private-public projects had taken off at the Civil Hospital during the previous year. They said that in one and a half years the hospital had received Rs162 million in donations.

They said the Civil Hospital had 1,100 doctors (between grade 17 and grade 20) and 1,517 paramedical staff, including 117 nurses aid and 350 skilled paramedics.

They explained that with 1,768 beds the infrastructure of the hospital was very large. “It has 36 special units. The turnover of patients at the outpatient department is 3,000 patients and at emergency is 800 patients. As many as 100 surgeries are performed on a daily basis.”

They added that the kitchen facilities of the Civil Hospital had also been privatized in 2002.

The official sources told Dawn that the administration of the Civil Hospital had signed an agreement with a private concern which prepared food for as many as 1,500 patients every day.

“Under the agreement, the administration of the Civil Hospital Karachi pays Rs440,000 every month and the private concern spends Rs1 million on a monthly basis.”

The agreement, the sources added, would remain valid for five years.

Besides, the private concern had decided the menu in consultation with the administration of the hospital. The official sources said that recently an emergency operation theatre had been completed which had also been constructed with the money from philanthropists.

“The philanthropists had provided Rs8 million with which the administration of Civil Hospital Karachi purchased equipment for two operation theatres.”

They said a computerized information and registration centre had been established at the gate number two. “Previously, people coming to visit patients, especially those coming from the interior of Sindh, would wander from one ward to another looking for their patients.

Now all patients are registered at the computer department where admission and discharge data is also maintained. Computer attendant can guide the visitors easily. This facility was available in private hospitals only.”