Masood Hussain Rao.
Profile of patients attending Civil Hospital, Karachi.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;39(3):97-102.

A study involving 2000 patients randomly selected from six major out patient departments of civil hospital, Karachi was conducted during 1993-95 to find out the profile of patients attending this hospital. Majority of the patients were illiterate belonging to low income group and residing in the same district in which the hospital is located. The ratio of adults and children below 15 years of age was 1 : 1.5. The main reason for attending Civil hospital , Karachi was just to get free treatment along or with some other reasons. 71% patients did not know the nearest government dispensary of the area. 62% patients were either children or a lady who could not move alone in the society so they brought some one with them. The time has come that role of local government dispensaries should be increased with better performance, providing some additional facilities and increasing their awareness in the general population. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that the main reasons for attending a teaching hospital out patient department is just to get free treatment alone or in collaboration with some other reasons. The patients came to this hospital just for minor ailments as majority of patients (71.7%) did not know about the nearest government dispensary in their areas. The patients who have the knowledge of nearest government dispensary in their area are not attending it because they have not been cured or received improper medicines or lack of care by the doctors. Different facilities like x-ray, laboratory, operation theater etc. are not commonly available at these centers. The main reason for over crowding is the need to bring someone with the patient such as children accompanied by mother or other females as it is not possible for women to move alone in our society.

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