A RECENT visit to Civil Hospital in Sukkur exposed serious issues that raise questions about the utilisation of the provincial health budget. The most alarming situation was in the emergency ward. Within an hour, two critical incidents highlighted the gravity of the problem. In the first case, there was no electricity in the ward. A patient on a ventilator was kept waiting outside the X-ray room because of the power outage. When asked when the electricity was expected to be restored, the staff casually responded that it might take three or four hours. Their indifferent attitude suggested that such situations were routine. In the second case, a teenage boy was brought in a pretty bad condition after a serious road accident. Due to electricity failure, the family was asked to take him to some other hospital.

In emergency medical situations, even a few minutes can determine life or death.

The absence of a functional backup system, such as a generator or solar power, was deeply concerning. According to officialnumbers, an amount of Rs334 billion was allocated to the health sector in Sindh in 2024-25.Such alarge allocation creates an expectation that public hospitals would provide proper facilities and quality healthcare. Unfortunately, the ground reality tells another story. It is reasonable to question how effectively the funds are being utilised.

Budget figures alone do not guarantee quality healthcare. Proper monitoring, transparent audits and strict administrative oversight are essentialto ensure that resources reach the people who need them most. The government must ensure public hospitals are equipped with basic facilities, especially the emergency wards.

Fakhra Ansari Sukkur