KARACHI: A majority of patients in the Neurosurgery Ward at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) have been waiting for surgical procedures for over a month, as ongoing internal disputes prevent new surgery dates from being scheduled. Despite the availability of skilled neurosurgeons, operations remain suspended, leaving patients and their families in distress.
The disruption is linked to an administrative conflict in the neurosurgery department. Grade-19 Associate Professor Dr. Erum Bukhari, the former head, is reportedly barring doctors from performing their duties. Although Professor Lal Rehman was appointed as the new department head on December 1, 2025, Dr. Bukhari has yet to formally hand over charge, prolonging the operational blockade.
Qualified neurosurgeons from Jinnah Sindh Medical University, including Dr. Muhammad Adil, Dr. Tanveer Ahmed, Dr. Rabel Akbar, Dr. Fahmida Arif, and Dr. Farukh Javed, have been prevented from operating in the ward. A source, on condition of anonymity confirmed that the situation has been reported to hospital administration but remains unresolved, further affecting patient care.
Patients left in uncertainty
Many admitted patients and new cases are caught in limbo. One Karachi resident awaiting surgery for a family member shared that doctors recommended an operation after multiple visits, yet no surgery date was issued. Instead, patients were asked to register and wait for a call in 15 days, a delay echoed by dozens facing similar circumstances.
Transition of department head stalled
Professor Lal Rehman, a qualified neurosurgeon previously serving in Islamabad, is legally eligible to assume leadership. However, his appointment has been blocked due to the former head retaining control. Efforts to contact Dr. Erum Bukhari for her perspective were unsuccessful, and the hospital administration has not provided an official comment. Updates will be published once available.
