Sindh CM approves Rs600m grant for NICVD

Funds will be used for the construction of a paediatric ward at the hospital

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved the release of Rs600 million to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), for the construction of a paediatric ward at the facility. He approved the release of funds while chairing a meeting on Thursday.

During the meeting, NICVD Executive Director Dr Nadeem Qamar informed the CM that 640,212 patients were treated at the facility in 2015, in Karachi. In 2016, the number increased to 729,468 and it reached 1,123,633 in 2018, he said. He added that NICVD has established eight chest pain units and 10 satellite centres so far. According to Dr Qamar, more than 1.1 million patients were treated at the hospital, its chest pain units and its satellites centres, by June, 2019. He said that 40,000 children are born with heart diseases every year in Pakistan and NICVD has the capacity to treat up to 60,000 patients per year.

In response to this information, the CM remarked that NICVD is providing treatment to a large number of patients from across Pakistan as well as from Afghanistan. He directed the health secretary to move a summary for the constitution of a new governing body for NICVD. The CM also ordered Dr Qamar to assist in the establishment of a well-equipped cardiac centre in every district headquarter of the province.

He also said that on the request of NICVD, an additional grant of Rs3 billion will be provided to establish satellite centres in Nawabshah, Mithi, Khairpur and Lyari, and ordered Dr Qamar to conduct an audit of its accounts.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2019.