Overcrowding at NICH reduces overall quality of paediatric care

07-10-2022

Catherine Yu 

Pakistan & Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

On Wednesday, an alarming number of patients were recorded at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) in Karachi's emergency and outpatient departments (OPDs). These numbers were reported during a visit by the Sindh’s public sector tertiary care health children facility, furthermore, the public sector revealed that there was an increased risk of infections acquired at the hospital’s facility. Many staff members experienced pressure throughout the year as a result of political and governmental enforcement to treat multiple children concurrently on a single bed, ultimately this has led to 1,200 patients being admitted to treatment while the facility only offers 600 beds. The NICH has allegedly been without any means of infrastructure expansion for two years, and the hospital has also seen a suspension in its employment process since 2009, resulting in the facility's ongoing staff scarcity. 

As a result, sources say the hospital's administration is attempting to fill the human resource deficit with the support and advice of non-governmental organisations. According to Dr. Saddal “The hospital refuses treatment to none. We explain our limitations to families and ask them to wait till a bed/s is/are vacant. It’s purely their decision to seek treatment elsewhere or wait at the NICH” (Saleem Saddal, 2022). It was further expressed by Dr. Halo that “using the hospital emergency for minor problems is inappropriate as it hampers the ability of physicians to give medical attention to those needing urgent care. Burden would go down to some extent here if minor illnesses are addressed at the primary healthcare level” (Ali Halo, 2022). These recalcitrant behaviours add to the hospital's overall crowding crisis, it is urged that the government take action, and that efforts be made to update hospitals in the province in order to reduce health risks and improve healthcare quality.

Sources and further reading:

Ilyas, F. (2022, October 6). Overcrowding at Nich Hampers Quality Healthcare for children. DAWN. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://www.dawn.com/news/1713625/overcrowding-at-nich-hampers-quality-healthcare-for-children 

Saleem Saddal, N. (2022) DAWN. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://www.dawn.com/news/1713625/overcrowding-at-nich-hampers-quality-healthcare-for-children 

Ali Halo, L. (2022) DAWN. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://www.dawn.com/news/1713625/overcrowding-at-nich-hampers-quality-healthcare-for-children