HFH complex reopens next week

Interim Punjab CM inaugurates project before completion

RAWALPINDI:

The Pediatric and Gynecology Complex at the Holy Family Hospital’s old block is set to resume operations next week after a three-month closure for renovation.

However, on Friday, Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi inaugurated the incomplete project, prima fasciae, to take credit for the renovation work his government started a couple of months ago.

While the new block will remain non-operational for an additional three weeks due to ongoing work, the renovation and revamping project will be completed by the set deadline of February 15.

It is noteworthy that the upcoming elections are scheduled for February 8 and the interim provincial government has expedited work on these projects to complete them before their stint ends.

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On October 25, 2023, the HFH, boasting 1,052 beds, temporarily closed for the comprehensive renovation project that is still underway. Consequently, the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital (BBGH), District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ), and Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Transplantation (RIUT) have been accommodating the additional patient load from HFH.

HFH Medical Superintendent Dr Ijaz Butt confirmed the completion of the renovation and revamping project in the old block, now designated as the Pediatric and Gynecology Complex. The inauguration ceremony was conducted by Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and the complex is poised to be fully operational next week, offering top-notch treatment facilities for pediatric and gynaecological cases.

Looking ahead, the new block's renovation and revamping are progressing swiftly, with a focus on activating the centralised heating and cooling system. Dr Butt assured that the work in the new block will conclude within the stipulated three weeks, aligning with the project's completion deadline of February 15.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th 2024.