Updated: Jan 02, 2026 14:11 IST

According to Dawn and officials, several wards are currently running out of the outpatient department as the main building meant to house specialised pediatric services is still incomplete. Financial constraints have stalled progress, despite repeated assurances from successive governments. The impact has become particularly visible during the winter season, when a surge in respiratory infections has overwhelmed existing facilities. Doctors reported that multiple children often have to share a single bed, while shortages of oxygen equipment have put lives at serious risk. Medical staff revealed that in emergencies, pediatricians were forced to improvise by using three-way nasal prongs to save critically ill children. They warned that such stopgap measures cannot replace a fully equipped pediatric hospital capable of handling complex cases