HYDERABAD: Lawmakers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) strongly criticized a proposed plan to divide the Civil Hospital Hyderabad.
Addressing a press conference held at the Hyderabad Press Club on Thursday, Members of the Sindh Assembly Sabir Qaimkhani, Nasir Qureshi and Rashid Khan expressed serious concerns over what they termed a conspiracy to weaken the hospital’s central status.
They said the hospital’s management board had convened a meeting to discuss its division, adding that such a move would open new doors to corruption. The hospital is a major teaching hospital catering to the entire division, and its division will damage healthcare delivery, they added.
The lawmakers highlighted that the health department has a budget of Rs371 billion, while the Civil Hospital alone has an allocation of Rs4 billion, yet patients are deprived of basic medicines and facilities.
They alleged severe mismanagement, a shortage of staff, and lack of cleanliness at the hospital. They further criticized the absence of representation from city stakeholders from the hospital’s board, despite similar boards in other institutions, including local representation.
Rashid Khan stated that the hospital’s staff strength has reduced to half compared to 2013, adding that since financial powers were granted to the vice chancellor, senior professors have stopped attending the hospital.
He alleged that the cardiac unit is being run like a dispensary, contributing to a rise in mortality due to lack of proper medical facilities. The MQM-P leaders also raised concerns about pressure on the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), saying it is already insufficient for the growing population.
They claimed that essential equipment, including stents, are unavailable, and the MRI machine had previously remained non-functional. Nasir Qureshi criticized the provincial government, led by the Pakistan Peoples Party, for failing to provide basic healthcare facilities in Hyderabad despite calling it their city. He added that promises to activate the burns ward remain unfulfilled.
The MQM-P leaders demanded that the agenda to divide the Civil Hospital be withdrawn immediately. They warned that if their demands are not met, they reserve the right to stage protests, strikes, and approach the courts.
