Why Karachi’s SIDH only facility treating Diphtheria in Sindh?
M. Waqar Bahtti:
Karachi: Karachi’s Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital (SIDH) is bearing the brunt of an unprecedented surge in diphtheria cases as patients from across Sindh are being referred to the facility.
Despite a growing number of critical cases, the hospital faces an acute shortage of Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT), the essential treatment for the deadly bacterial infection, leaving doctors struggling to manage the influx.Painkillers and Antibiotics Lead Pharma Market Amid Health Challenges
Already burdened by other infectious diseases, SIDH is overwhelmed as cases pour in from cities such as Sukkur, Larkana, Nawabshah, and Hyderabad as well as other parts of Karachi, forcing health authorities to scramble for resources, it emerged on Sunday.
Officials in the Sindh health department revealed that the World Health Organization (WHO) had stepped in with a donation of 500 vials of DAT, which will be delivered to SIDH Karachi as the health facility was dependent on other institutes for the availability of the critical treatment.
The donation, though urgently needed, may only temporarily alleviate the growing crisis as hospitals across Sindh are struggling to deal with the resurgence of diphtheria.
Patients from all over Sindh are being sent to SIDH Karachi for treatment. This hospital is not only managing diphtheria but also other infectious diseases. The pressure on Karachi’s facilities is immense,” an official from the Sindh Health Department said.
He confirmed that 500 vials of the WHO-donated DAT would be handed over to SIDH but warned that more supplies were needed as cases continue to rise.
While the SIDH remains the focal point for treatment, the lack of sufficient DAT has forced the hospital to rely on the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) for antitoxin supplies. SICHN, in turn, has limited stocks and is distributing DAT to public hospitals across the province.
Experts have raised concerns about the strain this is placing on Karachi’s healthcare system, calling for better resource allocation to hospitals in other cities to ease the burden.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has promised to expedite the process for importing more DAT by issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) within 24 hours. DRAP’s Chief Executive Officer, Asim Rauf, acknowledged the severity of the situation and assured the public that measures were being taken to ensure the antitoxin’s availability nationwide.
“We are prepared to issue the NOC within 24 hours, allowing for more DAT to be imported quickly. In Punjab, hundreds of vials are available at Children’s Hospital Lahore, which can be supplied where needed. Our aim is to make DAT accessible across the country,” Rauf said. He also urged parents to ensure their children receive routine vaccinations, warning against falling prey to misinformation and conspiracy theories.
The resurgence of diphtheria is largely attributed to a significant drop in routine immunization rates in Sindh, leading to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
According to health experts, hundreds of thousands of children have missed their vaccinations, which has not only triggered the diphtheria outbreak but also put the region at risk of other diseases like measles and polio.
Professor Jamal Raza, Executive Director of SICHN, expressed deep concern over the rise in cases and called for a national investigation into the resurgence of diphtheria, which was previously under control in Pakistan. “We’ve seen an unprecedented rise in cases this year, and we suspect that an invasive strain of the bacteria might be involved, though we cannot confirm this without further investigation,” he said.
Professor Raza emphasized the need for a strengthened immunization program, noting that the resurgence of diphtheria, combined with other vaccine-preventable diseases, signals that many children in Sindh are missing routine immunizations under the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).
Senior health officials have urged the government to launch a thorough investigation into the outbreak, calling for genome sequencing of the bacteria to identify the strain behind the surge. Health experts from the Aga Khan University have also stressed the importance of early detection and rapid treatment, warning that once the disease affects vital organs, the mortality rate approaches 100%.
In the meantime, the WHO’s donation of 500 vials of DAT provides temporary relief, but the growing number of cases suggests a need for immediate and comprehensive measures to contain the outbreak. Authorities are now under pressure to bolster vaccination campaigns, improve early detection training for healthcare providers, and ensure a consistent supply of DAT to save lives.
As Pakistan confronts the resurgence of diphtheria, health officials must act swiftly to address the root causes and prevent further strain on an already overburdened healthcare system.
