THE reported severe shortage of pediatric emergency beds in government hospitals across Karachi and Sindh is a matter of serious concern and demands the immediate attention of the provincial government. When parents rush their sick children to a public hospital, they should be able to expect timely medical care rather than being told that no bed is available.
Sindh has more than 9.5 million children under five, yet public hospitals have just over 450 paediatric emergency beds. At major facilities, the mismatch between demand and capacity is particularly stark. The National Institute of Child Health, for instance, has 68 beds but receives more than 400 children daily, while Civil Hospital has only 30 beds for over 100 daily patients. Such figures clearly demonstrate that existing capacity is grossly inadequate. Paediatric emergency services in several government hospitals have been placed under a public-private partnership. The NGO managing emergency departments in ten hospitals across the province receives Rs2.40 billion annually from the provincial government. While its officials say more than 450 beds are available and over 720,000 children received free emergency treatment during the last year, the continuing shortage raises an important question: is the existing capacity sufficient for the needs of Sindh’s growing child population? The provincial government must take notice and review the arrangement without delay. If an organization has been entrusted with providing paediatric emergency services and is receiving substantial public funds for the purpose, it must be ensured that adequate beds, doctors, nurses and other essential facilities are available. The government must also establish clear performance benchmarks and regularly monitor whether the funds allocated are translating into accessible and quality emergency care. This matter is about the health of our children, particularly those from families who cannot afford private hospitals. No child should be denied timely emergency treatment simply because a public hospital has run out of beds.
