Karachi: Amidst growing concerns about inadequate medical access for the impoverished, Pasban Democratic Party Chairman Altaf Shakoor has called on the government to urgently establish more tertiary care hospitals in Karachi. Highlighting the dependency of Karachi’s residents on only three major government hospitals—JPMC, Civil Hospital, and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital—Shakoor emphasized the need for healthcare expansion, particularly in underprivileged sectors such as Orangi, Malir, and Korangi.

According to Pasban Democratic Party, Shakoor criticized the existing infrastructure, noting the privatization of a government hospital intended for road accident victims along the Superhighway and the prohibitive costs of services at Dow Ojha Hospital. He argued that the lack of initiative in opening new specialized hospitals or upgrading existing facilities constitutes an injustice to the citizens.

Shakoor also proposed the creation of free-standing emergency medical centers to alleviate the strain on the main hospitals. He urged for a forensic audit of private hospitals that have received land from the government under the guise of operating as ‘welfare’ institutions but are instead exploiting the system. Further, he demanded the retrieval of prime land illegally occupied by private entities, intended originally for public transport facilities.

The chairman’s demands come as a plea to the government to prioritize healthcare accessibility by establishing new tertiary care facilities and emergency rooms throughout Karachi, particularly in areas currently lacking sufficient medical services.