by Karachi’s flagship public hospital, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), has recently faced a troubling crisis: several critical surgeries have been postponed due to a lack of essential medications and supplies.
⚠️ What’s Going On?
A ProPakistani report revealed that JPMC has exhausted key medications and medical supplies—vitals such as endoscopy injections, vitamin K, insulin syringes, and cannulas are completely out of stock. This shortage forced staff to delay surgeries and procedures, causing distress among patients and their families.
🧾 Hospital’s Response
JPMC administrators deny that operations have been delayed, asserting that medicines are available and interim supplies are expected once the new fiscal budget is released. However, insiders say the shortage has disrupted both routine care and emergency interventions, with postponed surgeries impacting timely treatment.
Several Surgeries Postponed Due to Lack of Medicines in Karachi’s Jinnah Hospital.
🔍 Why This Is Happening
- Financial bottlenecks — Many public hospitals, including those in Punjab, face delays in budget approvals, causing medicine procurement to stall. Remedial funding was released earlier this year, but allocation and delivery remain inconsistent.
- Procurement delays — The absence of timely tenders and purchase orders has dried up stock before budget releases, leaving stores empty during critical periods .
- Systemic underfunding — Historical documentation shows JPMC has long grappled with maintenance and operational funding shortfalls, exacerbating supply chain crises .
😟 The Human Toll
— Families emotionally strained: Postponed surgeries hold patients in limbo, causing repetition of pre-operative procedures and extending hospital stays.
— Potential life-threatening delays: Shortages affect not just elective but also emergency procedures—where timing can mean life or death.
Insight from Reddit highlights a longstanding issue across Pakistani hospitals:
“Equipment, meds, facilities are one thing, our govt hospital staff needs basic training.”
And on widespread shortages:
“Basic medicines and equipment is lacking in hospitals. Just yesterday we ran out of Normal saline!”
🛡️ What Needs to Happen
To prevent disruption of vital healthcare services, JPMC and relevant authorities must:
- Ensure immediate emergency procurement from available suppliers.
- Expedite fiscal approvals, particularly for replenishing essential medication stocks.
- Improve supply chain transparency, including real-time tracking of medicine availability across departments.
- Implement accountability mechanisms, from procurement officers to hospital leadership, to prevent recurring shortages.
📢 The Bigger Picture
JPMC serves over 1.8 million patients annually, making it one of Karachi’s largest public healthcare providers. A crisis here reflects systemic failings in public health funding and management. Without swift institutional reform, the lives of vulnerable patients will remain at risk.
✅ Final Take
The postponement of surgeries at Jinnah Hospital due to medicine shortages is more than a logistical failure—it is a healthcare emergency with real human consequences. While the hospital administration stresses budgetary relief is forthcoming, clear communication, urgent procurement, and transparency are essential right now.
With informed public pressure and decisive government action, JPMC can restore its critical role in serving Karachi’s populace. Let’s ensure healthcare never again pauses for lack of medicine.
