Reasons for the problems faced by patients in government hospitals: results of a survey in a government hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE To assess the reasons for the problems faced by patients in the government hospitals to make an emphasis on higher authorities for identification of problems and implementation of effective measures. METHODS A questionnaire-based doctor's survey was conducted at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC). The survey included 10 doctors each from 5 wards of JPMC. Informed consent was taken from study participants and ethical considerations were fulfilled. All the doctors were asked questions related to the problems created by hospital management, due to the irresponsibility and concerns of the doctors and also due to the patients themselves. The responses were evaluated separately. RESULTS A total of 50 doctors participated, out of which, 19 were males and 31 females. Out of all the reasons listed, 84% doctors favored the reason of inadequate salary to doctors & paramedical staff by government while other two reasons favored by 80% doctors were lack of facilities and security for doctors and illiteracy and poverty of patients. CONCLUSION This hospital based study showed that the causes were related mainly to hospital management, doctors' attitude and responsibility and also to patients' illiteracy and poverty. This calls for adequate measures by higher authorities to rectify the situation.