Government of Sindh handed over 1374 centers of health department to private company ‘People’s Primary’

Karachi: Government of Sindh has handed over 1340 primary health centers of Health Department including 34 of Malir district and Action Plan for Malnutrition to People’s Primary Health Initiative (PPHI).

The Sindh government has accelerated the process of handing over the health centers and hospitals to private companies. Other 34 health centers, including Ibrahim Haidari Hospital in Malir District, Karachi, while 1340 primary health units and related hospitals in Sindh have been handed over to the People’s Primary Health Care Initiative (PPHI) for another 5 years, while the program to control children’s malnutrition, Accelerated Action Plan for Reduction of Stunting and Malnutrition was also handed over to PPHI.

The employees working in the centers and the budget are also entrusted to the company

In this way, a total of 1374 health centers of the Department of Health have been given to the said company and the employees working in these centers and the budget have also been given to the company in the name of public private partnership.

According to the details, after the approval of the Provincial Cabinet, 1340 health centers and hospitals in Sindh have been set up as PPHIs under public-private partnership, including Sindh Government Ibrahim Hydari Hospital, Memon Goth, Ridhi Goth, Danba Goth in Malir district of Karachi. Other 34 health centers have also been given to PPHI for 5 years.

The budget of 1340 health centers was reported to be Rs 12.750 billion

The budget of these 1340 health centers is said to be 12.750 billion rupees, these centers have been with PPHI for the last 10 years, while there is a common complaint of non-availability of medicines in the health centers of Sindh.

According to the records of the Health Department, 34 health centers of Malir district and others including Ibrahim Hydari Hospital were also handed over to PPHI in the name of Public Private Partnership in 2022 by the Health Department. Earlier, in 2016, 34 health centers of Malir district were given to an NGO called HANDS for 5 years under public-private partnership for 20 crore rupees per year. These health centers remained under the Sindh government for 6 months, but in 2022, the centers in Malir district were handed over to PPHI under an agreement.

In this regard, it was told that the budget of which was said to be 100 crore rupees. Later, the Government of Sindh in its letter No. SO(PM&1)2-1/23/F.78 issued on 18 July 2023 said that after the approval of the Provincial Cabinet, the Accelerated Action Plan (AAP) for reduction of stunting & malnutrition program will also be PPHI. has been handed over.

The letter further said that other 63 government employees, including the previous program coordinator of this project Dr. John Badr, should also report to PPHI. The budget of this project is 2.9 billion rupees. A plan to screen and address their nutritional deficiencies was being implemented.

A survey of severe malnutrition among 8 lakh children has also come out under this program which saves the lives of newborn children in Sindh. In Sindh, this program was launched in 2017 under this project to survey the malnutrition of children in Sindh.

PPHI private company not audited by government, President Nutrition Union Wing

63 government employees of AAP started a hunger strike in front of the Karachi Press Club on July 25 against this move by the Sindh government. Hussain Ahmed Memon, president of the Nutrition Union Wing, told the Express Tribune correspondent that the Sindh government has contracted the government program to a private company with a budget of 2.9 billion. He said that the employees are suffering from severe mental problems. Meanwhile, sources said that PPHI, a private company which does not have official audit, conducts its own audit through PPHI 3rd party.

Sources say that the Sindh government is also preparing to transfer 290 more government dispensaries to PPHI.

Tariq Abbasi, administrator of PPHI-run Ibrahim Hydari Hospital, told Express that the administrative affairs of Ibrahim Hydari Hospital are with PPHI, the health department and PPHI are jointly running the hospital, with 36 beds. More than 500 patients come to the OPD in this hospital every day.

After 8 days, no response was received from the authorities

The Express correspondent sent queries on WhatsApp to find out details regarding the allocation of People’s Primary Health Initiative (PPHI) under Secretary Health Public Pvt. Sent queries to you but no reply received even after 8 days.

In the same way, the Express correspondent contacted PPHI’s communication officer Shafaq on the phone, on which Shafaq told the Express correspondent that the contract details of 1340 health centers in Indoran Sindh, including Malir district, should be sent to you on WhatsApp. will No reply received even after 8 days.

“There is no senior doctor available in Ibrahim Haidari Hospital after 2 o’clock.”

Meanwhile, a patient who came to the Sindh Government Ibrahim Hydari Hospital, Khamiso, said that medicines are not provided to the patients in the hospital, while there are no specialists in the hospital for operations. Jinnah is sent to hospital.

He said that no senior doctor is present in Ibrahim Hydari Hospital after 2 pm, but medical facilities are provided in emergency, stray dogs are seen roaming in the hospital.