Jinnah Hospital Karachi is grappling with a dire shortage of medical and administrative staff, endangering critically ill patients, particularly in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Despite having ventilators, the lack of trained personnel to operate them has left many non-functional.
According to sources, only six out of ten ventilators in the Medical ICU are operational, while the Surgical ICU fares worse, with only eight functional ventilators out of 24. At the Clinical ICU, seven out of 15 ventilators work, and the Neuro Trauma Unit operates with just one functional ventilator out of six available.
The Medical ICU requires 58 nursing staff but currently has only eight on duty. Across the hospital, 24 ventilators remain non-operational due to the unavailability of consultants and trained nurses.
Adding to the crisis, Jinnah Hospital terminated 168 employees in June 2024 due to budget constraints.
These employees, hired on three-month contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic, included 33 sweepers, 36 nurses, 27 ward boys, and 18 security guards. The severe staffing shortage, exacerbated by these layoffs, has left critical care patients highly vulnerable, with no immediate solutions in sight.
