Funds for CMCH’s trauma centre to be transferred to Karachi institute

LARKANA: The Sindh Government had placed a released fund of Rs150 million allocated earlier to the Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH), Larkana, for running recently repaired and renovated Trauma Centre, at the disposal of Institute of Trauma, Karachi.

The letter sent by Dr. Muhammad Asad Khatri, Section Officer (Budget), Health Department, addressed to the Finance Secretary, said that “No Objection” for handing over of building of Emergency Department and transfer of released funds of Rs150m of CMCH to SMBB Institute of Trauma, Karachi, has already been issued by the CMCH Medical Superintendent on 9th December 2022.

The letter further added that “it is pertinent to mention here that Finance Department has already released funds amounting to Rs150m (i.e. Rs75m for creation of 100 posts and Rs75m for non-salary items) in favour of CMCH during current financial year 2022-23, vide letter dated: 22.11.2022 for which permission has been accorded by the health minister to take over the administrative control of the building of Trauma and Surgical and Medical Emergency Centre, Larkana, along with all equipments and machinery procured through PC-1 component of operationalization of these facilities and also to take over the possession of installed machinery/ equipment. Hence it is requested that the funds be revised/ re-allocated as grant-in-aid in favour of SMBB Institute of Trauma, Karachi, instead of CMCH.”

This has created a silent row within the CMCH doctors. When senior doctors were contacted on Sunday they declined to comment on record for fear of repercussions but off the record said that the government has expressed no confidence on the doctors of Larkana who have become so incompetent that they cannot even run and manage a 62-bed capacity Trauma Centre despite the fact that they have been doing magnificent jobs where all the medical necessities have been fulfilled.

They said that the people of Larkana lost premiership, president ship, chief minister ship, minister ship, Vice Chancellorship and now they are losing institutions gradually which is very tragic.

They said that the government should revisit the decision, post senior, competent, hard working doctors, stop extortion, allocate proper funds, replace outdated machinery, equipment and instruments then the CMCH will start working; otherwise, it has lost its credibility for these reasons for which only health provider bosses could be blamed.