Hyderabad’s cardiology institute still awaiting official approval

The Sindh health minister says the facility will be established after cabinet approval

HYDERABAD: After a delay of several months, the bill for establishing a government institute of cardiology in Hyderabad will be taken up in the provincial cabinet meeting on March 27. However, uncertainty still looms over approval for the much desired health facility for a city of around three million people due to the alleged reluctance of Sindh Health Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the angiography unit at the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department of Hyderabad's Liaquat University Hospital on Saturday, Dr Mandhro appeared ambivalent about the institute. "My responsibility is to inform the cabinet that the people are demanding these institutes," he said, referring to Mehran Institute of Heart and Chest Diseases in Hyderabad and another institute for Karachi.

According to Dr Mandhro, the bill was also discussed during cabinet meetings a few months ago but an endorsement could not be given due to funding constraints. He said the cardiac institute will require a new building and an increased number of employees.

"The cabinet had discussed that arranging funds is going to take time, the existing cardiothoracic department may be upgraded with new equipment and staff," he said, putting the ball in the cabinet's court for approval or disapproval in the upcoming meeting.



"Our priority is to provide necessary cardiac care to the people," he replied when questioned whether setting up the institute or upgrading the existing department is his own priority.

The health minister referred to Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Hyderabad, which has failed to meet expectations after its recent elevation from a department.

Former chief secretary Siddiq Memon also emphasised the need to establish the institute while pointing out the increasing number of cardiac patients and a lack adequate health services in the district.

Dr Raheel Hussain, Head of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Liaquat University Hospital, moved an application to set up the institute in November, 2015. It was proposed that the institute be set up in the existing three-storey building until a new building in a different and central locality of Hyderabad could be built.



Dr Hussain, who is retiring next month, requested the minister to support the bill. He explained how a lack of autonomous functioning of the existing department affected services.

The minister means to provide new machines and equipment by upgrading them, not improving services at the department, commented a health official, who requested anonymity. He pointed out that though the angiography unit has been inaugurated, the government has yet to approve staff for the unit.

Even the cardiothoracic department is working with around 20% of the 159 sanctioned posts, the official said.