THE Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (SIOVS) in Hyderabad, apart from outpatient department (OPD) and other medical facilities, provides emergency services to people 24 hours a day; or one should rather say that it is supposed to provide such services round-the-clock.

On Nov 7, at around 8pm, I went to the institute along with my injured uncle whose left eye was hit hard by a ball, and he was in severe pain.

But, unfortunately, there was no doctor available to deal with emergency cases. When I asked about the doctor’s absence, the clerk, who was on the counter, told me that the doctor had gone for prayers, and advised me to wait. But, after a few minutes, the clerk himself went missing.

As our wait continued, after 8pm, the shift changed, and the clerk was replaced by another person who tried to contact the duty doctor, but in vain.

According to the night-shift clerk, the duty doctor was out of the city, and that he was trying to contact the relevant official through the telephone operator to arrange another doctor. But these attempts also went in vain.

Eventually, at around 9pm, I was told that a lady doctor had been finally contacted, and she would attend to all emergency cases that night. She came to the institute at around 9.15pm, and, to her credit, was efficient and competent.

If the institute is not willing, or unable, to provide medical services, it should clearly mention it on the noticeboard rather than misguiding the people.

Naseer Ahmed Soomro
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2024