Health Minister of Sindh Upset Over Court Ruling on Jinnah Hospital, Accuses Court of One-Sided Decision

Karachi: Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho expressed her dissatisfaction with the court’s ruling regarding the management of Jinnah Hospital, calling it a one-sided decision. She warned that if the federal doctors fail to resolve the issues smoothly, they will be sent back to the federal government.
Speaking at a ceremony at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Dr. Pechuho stated that under the leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the provincial government is prioritizing health and providing free medical facilities in Sindh hospitals to people from all provinces. She emphasized that the Sindh government is working with strong public-private partnerships to improve healthcare services.
Dr. Pechuho highlighted the performance of NICVD, stating that the hospital is serving deserving patients effectively. She also noted that the waiting area for attendants at NICVD has been humorously named the “TikTok Area.” Additionally, she announced that once the new outpatient department (OPD) building is completed, the emergency department will be expanded to accommodate more patients.
The Health Minister mentioned that public health institutions in Sindh are functioning with stability. She revealed that Jinnah Hospital has been improved with the help of private sector collaboration. Moreover, she disclosed that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC)-run cardiac hospital in Baldia, now under the Health Department of Sindh, would soon be inaugurated.
Dr. Pechuho further stated that a world-class heart disease hospital would be established in Landhi, with the design already completed and consultants being hired. She added that additional healthcare centers are being built in interior Sindh so that patients do not need to travel to Karachi for treatment. The rising number of heart patients, she pointed out, is due to factors such as climate change and mental stress. In response to increasing maternal and child mortality rates, a cardiac unit has been set up at Jinnah Hospital.
Addressing the court ruling on Jinnah Hospital, Dr. Pechuho argued that the court had issued a one-sided judgment and emphasized that both parties should be heard before making a decision. She clarified that the executive director of Jinnah Hospital had not been dismissed and urged the federal government’s doctors to resolve the matter amicably. If the situation is not handled smoothly, she warned, they would be sent back to the federal government.