RCS cardiac hospital reopens but without any services.

Byline: Mohammad Hussain Khan

HYDERABAD -- The cardiology hospital of the Red Crescent Society (RCS) in Latifabad remained without any medical services and closed for all practical purposes when its management reopened it on Thursday after a month-long closure.

The management had announced its closure after 16 of its staff members, including three doctors, tested positive for Covid-19.

No services were offered to patients as doctors declined to resume work unless their two-month salaries were disbursed and the hospital was made 'fully functional'. The management has decided to restore limited medical services.

The protesting doctors and paramedics have been crying hoarse over what they claim to be 'falling standards' at the hospital.

Dr Aijaz Arain, president of the Doctors and Paramedical Association at the Red Crescent Institute of Cardiology, has addressed a letter to the Hyderabad deputy commissioner seeking time for a meeting to discuss issues.

Doctors demand salaries, want the health facility made fully functional

'The district branch of the society has indeed made an announcement about the hospital's opening today. They are going to start OPD and emergency services alone. Patients won't be admitted. When a cardiac patient is not to be admitted for treatment in hospital, then what is the fun of opening hospital?' he asked.

He contested the society's claim that the angiography facility would be restarted.

He said: 'We are told that one month's salary would be paid as and when funds were available; and we have received messages that if we didn't resume duties, new staff will be hired'.

The society has appointed Dr Ayub as the hospital's administrator.

According to doctors, a three-member committee, appointed by the society's provincial headquarters at Karachi, is responsible for running the hospital. But it has not made its presence felt either. It has not been able to deliver, leading to an outcry by doctors and paramedics who believe that the committee is responsible for the hospital's present condition.

One month back serving doctors and paramedics were told by the committee members - Majid Ali, Rafiq Jafri and Asfandyar - that the hospital was being closed for disinfecting as three doctors and 13 other staff members had tested positive for the coronavirus.

'The staff is serving [at the hospital] for close to three decades; where will they go if sacked? How funds will be generated when we are not going to admit patients and...