Sir: The public has raised a hue and cry countless times about public healthcare but to no avail. Public hospitals remain in a deplorable and shabby condition. To be honest, it is a disgrace to our country, our morals and to humanity at large. There is no electricity and no proper staff in the hospitals while stray animals and insects roam around freely. There are abominable sanitary conditions, unavailability of medicines, lack of proper equipment and the list goes on. Above all the doctors who are supposed to serve the nation are more interested in their private practices because that way they earn more money. Not everybody can afford private hospitals that despite being expensive provide proper treatment. How many people will have to suffer before the government realises the enormity of this predicament and rectifies it? ZUNERA SIDDIQUI Karachi