JPMC’s nephrology dept on the verge of closure

KARACHI- The nephrology department at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) has been closed for emergency and OPD services due to the unavailability qualified doctors, sources at the JPMC told the media recently.

Sources said all the new patients with kidney problems, treatment of kidney problems and renal replacement therapy (dialysis and kidney transplantation) surgery requirements were being referred to private hospitals due to the lack of qualified doctors in department. They said that the department was only catering to patients who were already enrolled.

They said due to the unavailability of professors, assistant professors, doctors and paramedical staff, the various departments of JPMC like; kidney, skin, plastic surgery, chest surgery departments have been closed in the hospital over the last four years. They said over 600 posts of doctors, paramedics and nursing staff at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) have been lying vacant for the past few years due to the hospital management’s lethargy.

They said there are total 28 departments in the JPMC where only five professors currently are available, while rests of departments were being run by assistant professor and about a dozen departments are being run by a single doctor. A good number of professors and assistant professors retired from their posts and some have left the country for better avenues, over the last few years, they added.

The patients are facing problems due to the dearth of specialist doctors in hospital, but a tug of war between health department Sindh and hospital administration had brought one of the best health institutions on the verge of closure.

In-charge Emergency Department, Dr Seemin Jamali stated that; The health department Sindh had approved leaves of nephrology and bio-chemistry professors without the consent of JPMC administration. Resultantly performance of these two deportments remains partially disturbed, but OPD service is continuing smoothly in the nephrology department. She further said; Skin Diseases Ward and Plastic Surgery Department are operating as per routine in the hospital.