Expansion: ICU inaugurated at Civil hospital

At a cost of Rs50 million a new ICU was inaugurated at Civil Hospital, Karachi (CHK).

KARACHI: At a cost of Rs50 million a new intensive care unit (ICU) was inaugurated at Civil Hospital, Karachi (CHK) by the health minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed on Monday.

Of the total cost, Rs40 million was put in by the health department while the remaining was contributed by the Dow Medical College alumni of 1982. The minister hoped to open one in each of the teaching hospitals in the city. This unit, which had a soft launch in July last year, has so far treated about 300 patients. Medical superintendent Dr Saeed Qureshi said there was a “dire need for the unit especially keeping in mind patients who came with respiratory problems.” The unit has 300 general ward beds, 12 beds connected to a ventilator and four beds for patients with high dependency. The donation for an additional ventilator by the health department was announced.

Dow VC Professor Masood Hameed proposed jobs for medical technologists once they graduate.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2011.