Rs1 billion earmarked for health projects in twin cities

Nursing school, drug-testing lab to be set up.

ISLAMABAD:

In the budget that was presented on Friday, the total amount allocated for health projects in the twin cities is around Rs1.07 billion.

Out of this amount, Rs409.5 million have been set aside for the projects of Cabinet Division, while Rs663.7 million have been allocated for the Capital Administration and Development Division.

Some of the major projects include the provision of safe blood transfusion services in Islamabad for which Rs6 million have been allocated against the total estimated cost of Rs602 million.

The proposed project of setting up a federal drugs surveillance laboratory will cost Rs170 million and for this purpose around Rs53 million have been allocated for the upcoming financial year of 2012-2013. Similarly, establishing an allergy centre at the National Institute of Health will require Rs45 million for which Rs9 million have been allocated in the new budget.

For the prime minister’s special initiatives to counter dengue fever and pollen allergy, Rs39 million have been allocated, which is the estimated cost of the project.

A sum of Rs25 million has been allocated for the construction of a nursing school at the Federal Government Services Hospital, while the total estimated cost of the project is Rs40 million.

Another major project of setting up Women and Chest Diseases Hospital in Rawalpindi has been allocated Rs20 million in the budget of 2012-13, against the total cost of Rs1.4 billion.

Moreover, for the establishment of cardiac surgery facilities at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
(PIMS), Rs554 million have been allocated against the total estimated cost of Rs1.3 billion.

A sum of Rs3 million has been allocated for upgrading the PIMS Radiology Department, while Rs39 million is the estimated cost of the project.

Strengthening health information systems through the National Health Information Resources Centre will require Rs290 million, while Rs20 million have been earmarked in this year’s budget.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2012.