CHK Burns Centre struggles as patient load surges
Admissions increase by 15% in 2024, with 71 suicidal and homicidal burn cases reported in two years. KARACHI: The 66-bed Burns Centre at Dr Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) admitted a total of 1,170 burn victims, including acid, suicidal, homicidal and electrical burns cases, in 2024, registering a 15% increase, compared to its overall admissions in 2023. According to the Burns Centre –the only comprehensive burns care facility in the public sector in Sindh—it treated and discharged 573 (49%) burns patients, while 412 (35%) expired and 166 (14%) left the hospital against the expressed medical advices. The CHK centre, which is run in collaboration with an NGO (Friends of Burns Centre), witnessed 32 suicidal attempt (self-burning), and 16 homicidal (reportedly burnt by others) cases in 2024, against 39 suicidal and 23 homicidal cases brought there in 2023. Overall, the burns-specific hospital admitted 71 patients, including 22 women, suicidal burn cases, and 39, including...