Imagine waiting months, perhaps even over a year, for a much-needed surgery, only to be told it’s cancelled at the last minute. This heartbreaking reality is unfolding in major public hospitals across Lahore, including Mayo, Jinnah, and Services Hospital, due to a severe shortage of anaesthetists.
The crisis began when dozens of anaesthetists, working on temporary six-month contracts, were let go without permanent replacements in sight. This sudden exodus has left operating rooms critically understaffed, forcing hospitals to make impossible choices. Now, only life-or-death emergency procedures can proceed, while all elective surgeries have been completely halted.
The human cost is immense. Picture a 62-year-old woman, ready for gallbladder surgery at Mayo Hospital, only to be sent home because there was no anaesthetist available. Countless others face similar uncertainty, their pain and wait extended indefinitely.
Hospital administrators repeatedly warned the Punjab Health Department about the impending disaster, pleading for contract renewals or new appointments. Their warnings, however, went unheeded. Despite the clear evidence of surgical chaos, a spokesperson for the Punjab Health Department claims a large-scale recruitment campaign is underway and that “doctor shortages are no longer an issue.” This statement sharply contrasts with the grim reality faced by patients and medical staff on the ground.
Until this critical gap is filled, thousands of patients in Lahore remain in limbo, their health—and hope—hanging by a thread.
