In Hyderabad, public hospitals continue to struggle with outdated infrastructure, forcing thousands of patients to travel to Karachi each year for advanced treatment. The city, home to more than 4 million people, has several decades-old government hospitals that have not been upgraded to tertiary care standards, despite rising demand.
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Major facilities including civil hospitals in Latifabad, Qasimabad and other areas still lack intensive care units, ventilators and modern surgical equipment, according to hospital staff. Officials say these hospitals were originally established as secondary care centers nearly 30 years ago but were never upgraded to teaching hospital status, limiting access to specialist doctors and advanced technology.
حیدرآباد میں سرکاری اسپتال جدید سہولیات سے محروم،
عوام کراچی کا رخ کرنے پر مجبور #Hyderabad #Sindh #PPP@BBhuttoZardari @MuradAliShahPPP @AzraPechuho https://t.co/7RliVycdb0
— Sindh Leaks سنڌ ليڪس (@Sindhleak) May 9, 2026
As a result, patients from Hyderabad and surrounding districts often travel to Karachi’s larger hospitals, adding pressure to already overburdened urban health facilities. Hospital administrators acknowledge staffing shortages, noting that absence of teaching status prevents recruitment of senior professors and limits availability of modern diagnostic services.
Residents say the situation has worsened over the years and demand urgent government action to upgrade facilities or construct a new tertiary hospital for the growing population. The issue highlights long-standing gaps in provincial healthcare planning, with experts warning that without investment in infrastructure, equipment and trained staff, urban hospitals will continue to face severe patient overload and declining service quality across Sindh.
Health advocates stress immediate upgradation of hospitals in Hyderabad, including conversion of existing facilities into teaching hospitals, installation of modern ICUs and expansion of emergency services to reduce dependence on Karachi. They argue that equitable healthcare access is essential for a rapidly growing urban population and call for increased provincial funding and monitoring to ensure timely reforms.
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Officials are urged to prioritize healthcare reforms in upcoming budgets. Weeks of delay are expected to worsen pressure on emergency departments across the city experts warn further action needed