No Infectious Diseases Centers Set up in Sindh Despite Funds

Despite having adequate funds, the Sindh government hasn’t established infectious diseases hospitals and centers in the province which it had committed to set up in different divisions.

Sources told News360 that the provincial government has not spent the development budget and only 20% of it was used.

It added that the government only utilized a little fraction of Rs 23.5 billion development budget during the ongoing fiscal year.

Sindh government had announced to establish infectious diseases hospitals in Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad but failed to do so despite having funds.

Sources told News360 the provincial government had earmarked Rs 2 billion for the healthcare facility in Hyderabad, Larkana and Sukkur, Rs 1.30 billion for Shaheed Benazirabad and Rs 300 million for Mirpurkhas.

However, owing to the lethargy of the health department aided by the coronavirus situation, the development budget could not be used for the purpose.

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Further, the government has converged its focus only on the provincial capital Karachi and neglected other urban centers during the coronavirus pandemic situation.

The test-to-positivity ratio in Hyderabad is rising and there is a similar situation in other urban hubs but the government has so far refrained from increasing the capacity of the healthcare facilities.

The carelessness on the part of the government has deteriorated the situation in the hospitals across the province and the surge in covid-19 cases has resulted in mounting pressure on the healthcare system.