Sindh to upgrade emergencies of secondary care hospitals  

KARACHI: Sindh government has decided to strengthen emergency care in secondary care hospitals across the Karachi.

Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Hyder Shah chaired a high-level meeting focused on the upgradation of emergency departments in secondary care hospitals throughout Karachi.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary highlighted the pressing need to strengthen the emergency response capabilities of government-run secondary care hospitals, especially in light of the increasing patient burden witnessed across the city.

He stressed that the upgradation of emergency wards was no longer optional but an urgent necessity, as the current facilities were under immense pressure and needed comprehensive reform to meet the growing healthcare demands of Karachi’s population.

He stated that the primary goal of this initiative is to enhance the accessibility, efficiency, and overall quality of emergency healthcare services. These improvements, he noted, would ensure timely, organized, and life-saving care for all citizens, particularly for those relying on government facilities for urgent medical treatment.

Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah also emphasized that upgrading emergency departments at the secondary care level would play a pivotal role in easing the burden on tertiary care hospitals. “At present, many secondary care hospitals are referring even basic emergency cases to major tertiary hospitals due to lack of infrastructure and resources.

During the meeting the Secretary Health briefed the meeting about the current services at Sindh Government Hospital Ibrahim Hyderi, Korangi No. 5, 2A Corridor Landhi, Saudabad Malir, Murad Memon, New Karachi, and Liaquatabad. He said these hospitals are serving many patients daily but need better emergency services.

He informed the forum that while these hospitals are providing essential primary care services to a large number of patients on a daily basis, their emergency departments remain under-resourced and lack the necessary capacity to handle critical cases effectively. He recommended providing more staff, equipment, and budget to improve their emergency departments.

The medical superintendents of various hospitals welcomed this timely initiative and shared their observations and suggestions based on the unique challenges and requirements of their respective facilities. They also presented proposals and design plans that focused on reconfiguring the physical layouts of existing emergency departments to improve patient flow and operational efficiency.

Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah directed all hospital administrators to submit comprehensive and actionable plans for the proposed upgrades. These plans are to include detailed scopes of work, timelines, cost estimates, and resource requirements.