KARACHI: Considering state of public healthcare in country, government hospitals often do not even have basic facilities available for treating patients let alone cohort of fidgety family members accompanying them.

Unfortunately, none of hospitals across the province have any shelter areas to accommodate attendant’s accompanying patients. With constrained finances, hapless families, which often include people from remote areas, often have no place to spend night. Hence, most take refuge on sidewalks outside hospitals, where they spend chilly nights under open sky in great agony.  Shabana, daughter of Khizra Bibi, patient from Sukkur, shared her ordeal, stating that her mother’s leg bone was broken in an accident at home. Local doctor referred her to Karachi Trauma Center for treatment. Shabana arrived in Karachi three nights ago with her brother and mother, who has been admitted to the Trauma Center and is scheduled for an operation in week. However, hospital lacks accommodation arrangements for patients’ attendants, forcing them to spend night on footpaths outside hospital. Ashiq Bhutto, caregiver from interior Sindh, has been visiting Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for past week to tend to his ailing brother. However, scheduled operation for his brother’s gallbladder has been postponed multiple times, with new date still uncertain. Ashiq Bhutto expressed his concerns about the harsh winter conditions in Karachi. According to Ahmed Raza, trustee of large welfare organisation, current winter season in Karachi is particularly harsh. “It is unfortunate that government hospitals lack temporary shelters or shades for patients and their caregivers travelling from interior Sindh.

Many of these individuals belong to low-income households and cannot afford to rent a room, forcing them to spend nights on hospital sidewalks,” confirmed Raza. According to hospital administration’s, shelter areas have not been constructed due to concerns that unrelated individuals may also seek to sleep in hospitals at night, which can lead to incidents of theft of caregivers’ belongings. Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Karachi Dr Khalid Bukhari, confessed that there were no permanent shelters for caregivers at hospital. “While there are temporary awnings in certain areas, hospital is often crowded with patients, leading to an increase in number of caregivers as well,” said Dr Bukhari. Spokesperson for JPMC stated that hospital administration was working to address issues faced by patients’ caregivers, and temporary shelter had been established specifically for female caregivers. “Our hospital is aware of difficulties faced by caregivers of patients and is actively working to address these issues. A spacious waiting room has been constructed within hospital, which offers variety of facilities for visitors,” claimed Dr Tariq Sheikh, Administrator of NICVD. Officials from Sindh Health Department conceded to reports of shortage of facilities for caregivers at government hospitals. However, they too claimed that they would address these issues in collaboration with administration and welfare organisations.