PIMS faces shortage of doctors, nurses | The Express Tribune
Islamabad:
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) is facing a severe shortage of doctors, nurses and other technical staff amid the onslaught of dengue virus patients and the increasing patient load at the largest government hospital.
Due to non-filling of 796 vacant posts, not only the existing staff, including doctors, were facing difficulties in caring for the patients, but it was also affecting the growing number of patients, which after the new recruitments, the hospitals They are starting to turn. Metro bus service was extended to rural areas and suburbs of the federal capital.
A large number of people, who would otherwise visit their nearest health facilities in rural areas, have started visiting Pims Hospital after the introduction of metro bus service between the hospital and rural areas including Behara Kahu and Rawat. .
According to sources, the specialist doctors have to reduce their OPDs to attend to the emergency patients, which receive 2500 to 3000 patients daily.
Sources say that due to the ban on new recruitments, the plan to start the Syrian OPD has also been put on hold.
According to the available documents, currently 253 posts of doctors, 56 posts of nurses and 48 posts of paramedical staff and 245 posts of lower staff including lab technicians, attendants and office boys are vacant in Pims Hospital.
Pims management officials say that if the required number of doctors and nurses become available, they will start evening OPD in the hospital.
Sources say that the patients coming to the hospitals are facing severe difficulties and patients suffering from serious diseases have to wait for several days to get their examination by specialist doctors.
According to the sources, despite the increase in the number of patients, the posts of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff of Pims Hospital have not been increased.
The number of patients visiting the OPDs of different departments of Pims Hospital has exceeded 5 thousand every day. Around 100 operations were performed daily in different wards.
Sources said that daily 150 to 180 patients visit Pims Hospital for minor operations (bandages, stitches etc.).
Considering the rush of patients, the hospital management had planned to start an evening OPD, but it could not be started due to the ban on new recruitment by the finance division.
A PIMS administration official said that doctors needed to focus on patients with peace of mind for better treatment, but this was not possible in the largest government hospital due to heavy patient load.
Dr. Khalid Masood, director of PIMS Hospital, confirmed that the hospital is facing shortage of staff and doctors. However, he said that they are trying their best to provide better facilities to the patients with the available staff and resources.
Regarding new recruitments, Dr. Khalid said that due to the ban on new recruitments, new doctors and other staff could not be recruited.
Published in The Express Tribune on September 19.Th2022.