Profile of patients attending civil hospital, Karachi

ABSTRACT

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