A power outage at Sandeman Provincial Hospital in Quetta disrupted routine medical procedures, forcing doctors to perform a child's hernia surgery under mobile torchlight in the children's surgical operation theatre. 

The operation was performed when the hospital's electricity supply was interrupted due to load shedding.

The hospital staff contacted the Medical Superintendent (MS), who stated that he was not aware of any surgery performed under torchlight. He added that the hospital's backup generator system takes a few minutes to start.

According to the MS, funds have already been released to the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) for the installation of an additional power line.

This incident highlights the broader, ongoing healthcare crisis in the province.

Despite the provincial government's allocation of PKR 2 billion in 2024 for medical procurement, government hospitals in Balochistan continue to face severe shortages of essential medications. Hospital supplies reportedly remain dangerously low for months at a time, seriously affecting both patients and medical professionals.

Basic emergency items, including essential supplies such as bandages, are often unavailable in many hospitals.

Citizens have voiced growing frustration over the worsening conditions, particularly in the emergency departments of Quetta’s main public hospitals.

Conditions in Outpatient Departments (OPDs) have also reportedly deteriorated, with patients frequently complaining of poor treatment and unprofessional staff behaviour.

As Balochistan continues to grapple with long-standing challenges in its healthcare infrastructure, citizens and healthcare advocates are calling for urgent, transparent, and long-term reforms to ensure access to safe and reliable medical services.