Poor performance of hospitals: Who is to blame?

Doctors' commitment, nurses and ayas' dedication is a key to better treatment of patients at the hospitals. Within this context however there are some situations where patients, doctors and nurses have different expectations of the medical encounter, leading to stress and dissatisfaction.

The doctors who all requested anonymity revealed the conditions under which doctors and the other staff have to work at the hospitals. "I have experience of working with the government, semi-government and private hospitals. I blame the lack of resources for the poor health care received by the Pindiites. OPDs are always crowded with patients. You can imagine the working environment there sans air conditioner in hot summer days," says Dr. Rubab, a well-known surgeon.

"The hospitals also face a staffing issue, which is a main risk. There are a few doctors in some departments, and you can't run the departments with them. Preferably more should be there. The complaints are distressing, and a probe should be conducted in a bid to solve much of the problems the doctors face," adds Dr. Rubab.

"Doctors, mostly house officers, have to deal with too many patients as the seniors including PGTs do not work and pass on their burden to the junior doctors. The HoDs rarely visit their departments as they are busy making handsome sum treating their rich private clients. Moreover, many house officers do not cooperate with each other and simply try to gratify their seniors. Same is the case with the nurses," says Dr. Nida-e-Zahra.

"If we intend to provide good health care, there needs to be an overall reformation to deal with issues of overcrowding as the doctors and health care workers are dealing with more than they can handle because of the population shift," adds Dr. Zahra.

"We work under tense conditions day-in and day-out, facing criticism from the very patients we treat and non-cooperation from the healthcare staff, while being underpaid and being on call 24/7 and it is not difficult to imagine how our attitude undergoes change after a few years. Until one has first-hand experience of what it is like to work under such conditions, one should reserve judgment," says Dr. Haania.

"What is required is a better funded system. The doctors are human also and are sure to be affected by what they are given to work with. How can spirits be high in a system which weakens one's oath to do no harm? Maybe this is in fact the kind of system we can afford given the level of poverty and maladministration we have. Just the good behaviour on our part can't save many lives," adds Dr. Haania.

"Criticise where it is right. Provide hospitals with the bare minimum requirements. Only doctors, nurses, administrative staff can't take the work to manageable levels. If there are no improvements and patients are still complaining after this is done, then the next step should be to evaluate medical staff to ensure their conduct is in line with what is required of them professionally," says Dr. Kazim Zaidi.

"Do not find fault with the doctors? They are just workers. It is their political and administrative chiefs that have the lion share of the blame. What is regrettable is that they will carry out their inquiry and find nothing wrong. I believe every word the doctors say as I have firsthand knowledge of what goes on in there," says Dr. Noor Ali, a departmental head.