Karachi’s Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), regarded as Pakistan’s largest public-sector hospital, is grappling with a serious financial and administrative crisis, resulting in patients being deprived of basic healthcare facilities.
According to details, patients visiting Jinnah Hospital are facing acute shortages of essential medicines, while no effective grievance redressal mechanism is in place to address their complaints. As a result, many patients are being forced to purchase even basic medicines from private markets, adding to their financial burden.
The hospital administration is also struggling with a severe shortage of paramedical staff, nurses, and faculty members. Although the Sindh Health Department has deputed medical officers and Jinnah Sindh Medical University has assigned faculty members, delays in formal appointments have left critical gaps unfilled.
Speaking to ARY News programme Bakhabar Savera, Jinnah Hospital spokesperson Dr Waqas Khan said the hospital currently requires around 2,000 additional staff members to function smoothly.
He explained that several financial matters are currently under litigation, while court-issued stay orders on contract-based hiring have further restricted recruitment. Additionally, the retirement of government employees without timely replacements has compounded the crisis.
Dr Khan added that these administrative hurdles have significantly disrupted hospital operations, affecting patient care and service delivery.
Historical background
The Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre traces its origins to 1930, when it began as the Medical Corps Hospital to provide medical aid exclusively to military personnel. In 1942, it was renamed the British General Hospital and functioned as a 100-bed facility.
Following the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah granted permission for the hospital to bear his name, on the condition that it be opened for the general public — a legacy that continues today despite the mounting challenges.
