Pakistan: As coronavirus cases cross 100,000, hospitals running out of beds, ventilators

As Pakistan continues to struggle with the coronavirus situation in the country, several hospitals are complaining that they are running out of beds to treat patients.

Much like its South Asian neighbours, Pakistan is still lagging behind many Western countries in terms of testing, and officials on Monday said that more than 100,000 coronavirus cases and 2,000 deaths have been reported so far.

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A leaked government report last week claimed that in Lahore alone, there are about 700,000 infections.

In Lahore, several major hospitals said that they were running out of ventilators, beds, and other crucial equipment, reported AFP.

"Hospitals are running out of beds; there aren't enough ventilators given to us," Khizer Hayat, chairman of the Young Doctors Association of Punjab, said.

He added that facilities across the province require help.

Health centres in Karachi, a port city in southern Pakistan, are turning away patients.

A large sign was placed outside Indus hospital in Karachi which said that there was no space for coronavirus patients.

"As the cases increase, more health care workers are also falling victim to the virus," Farooq Sahil, a doctor at Services Hospital Lahore said.

Asad Umar, who heads the federal government's coronavirus task force, on Monday said a package was being finalised to reduce pressure from hospitals and would include 1,000 new beds in major cities.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's approach to handling coronavirus has been patch as he has been reluctant on imposing a nationwide lockdown, arguing that the move would severely affect the economy.

In southwestern Balochistan province, government spokesman Liaqat Shahwani said the situation was serious, and officials were finding it hard to cope.

Sikander Ali Memon, who is leading Sindh province's efforts to curb the virus said that the crisis is "unfolding now as we have ceased to observe isolation".