Southern Command provides Rs5b for cardiac hospital

Health minister says consultations being held with firms to digitise two major hospitals in Quetta

QUETTA: Provincial Minister for Health Naseebullah Marri has said the Southern Command is providing Rs5 billion for the establishment of a modern cardiac hospital.

“A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Southern Command Balochistan and the health department for the purpose,” said the health minister while giving a briefing about the performance of his ministry at the Balochistan Awami Party's Social Media Centre on Tuesday.



BAP's Media Coordinator Muhammad Azeem Kakar was also present.
Marri said, “Completion of this project, which has been initiated with mutual cooperation of the Pakistan Army and the Balochistan government, will provide all treatment facilities to cardiac patients at their doorstep.”

He further said the machinery requisite for conducting open heart surgery, available in major hospitals of Quetta, had also been made operational, adding that cardiac departments at government hospitals were equipped with modern and most expensive machinery.”

The minister blamed the corrupt mafia for keeping machines non-operational so that the masses moved to private hospitals for cardiac treatment.



"To improve the deteriorated condition of public hospitals in rural areas and to meet the shortage of medical officers, besides Balochistan Public Service Commission, the government has initiated a plan to appoint 175 male medical officers, 131 female doctors and 160 staff nurses on contract," he said, adding that the pay of the contract officers would be based on their performance.

The provincial minister said that Balochistan was a huge, sparsely populated province where provision of health facilities was no less than any challenge.



“The BAP government has accepted this challenge and is working for the welfare of the people of Balochistan,” he added.

He said the provincial government has planned to make effective legislation for revolutionising the health sector in the province and two major hospitals located in Quetta would be digitalised, adding that “consultations are being held with reliable firms to digitise the two hospitals”.

He expressed determination that they would fulfil the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan at any cost.