KARACHI– According to sources, the Health Department of Sindh failed to purchase life-saving medicines through its Centralized Procurement Committee for health facilities of the province of Sindh. This news surfaced as the stock of drugs almost ended in all hospitals of Sindh, putting thousands of lives at stake.

All major hospitals of Karachi, including Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, National Institute of Child Health, Sindh Government Hospital Liaquatabad, Korangi, New Karachi, Saudabad, Ibrahim Haidery and Lyari General Hospital have lately been facing shortage of medicines.

The health facilities of Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad and other nearby areas are also said to be facing shortage of life-saving medicines, specifically those used for chronic diseases, such as infectious and systemic diseases.

The stock of surgical equipment is also said to have ended in all health facilities, and patients are compelled to purchase drugs and other surgical instruments from other markets.

Sources at the Health Department mentioned that, shortage of medicines in Sindh’s hospitals has been a problem since the beginning of the current fiscal year, affecting the operations of health facilities, across the Province of Sindh.

Medical Superintendent, CHK, Dr. Muhammad Tofique, confirmed the above mentioned news.

However, Dr. Tofique added that the arrangements of life-saving drugs for 7000 OPDs, 1500 emergency facilities and 2000 admitted patients, on a daily basis is a tough task, but the administration is striving hard to provide medicines to all the patients.

Secretary Health, Sindh, Dr. Muhammad Usman Chachar was not available for comments.