Sir: The condition of government hospitals in Karachi regarding the services for patients are in a real pitiable situation. On the occasion of Sab Keh Do Day, I want to share what I felt and observed when I got a chance to visit one of the hospitals. When I reached the hospital, I found that there was no paramedical staff available in the emergency department and there was a long queue of poor patients waiting for the staff to take up their emergency cases. I tried to explore the reason for that, and I found that the staff has gone for a lunch break and didn’t come back even when the time was over. Finally the staff arrived and they started their work and there was a miserable smile on the faces of the poor people. On asking a patient about the facilities in the hospital, we came to know that the OPD is open but no medication is available. The poor people were forced to buy expensive medicines from outside the hospital. Regarding the condition of the general ward, there was an overload as compared to the capacity of the hospital. There were at least two patients accommodated on a single bed. There were some patients adjusted on the couches. There were only two female nurses for about more than 50 patients and there was a chaotic situation in the ward. The sanitary and hygienic conditions of the ward were absolutely pathetic. The competence of the doctors and paramedical staff also had a question mark over it. There were a large number of mishandled cases reported because of the incompetence and reluctance of the staff, for which the poor patients are forced to visit private clinics or hospitals. This situation can also be seen in many other government hospitals all over the country. The concerned authorities should take up this issue on priority basis to improve the health standards of the people living in Karachi.HUMA JAFFERKarachi