Child hospital set for August launch

Facility faced decade-long construction delays

PESHAWAR:

The only specialized hospital for child healthcare in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is set to be inaugurated in August.

The hospital has been under construction for more than a decade due to non-provision of sufficient funds from the federal government.

It has now been decided to start a specialized pediatric OPD at the hospital, for which work on the ground and first floor of the hospital is being finished rapidly.

The hospital administration has also requested necessary medical equipment, ultrasound and X-ray machines as well as doctors from the health department.

Official sources told The Express Tribune that in the first week of August, the chief minister will inaugurate the facility.

A specialized OPD for children will be started which is not available in other major hospitals of the province.

Contacts have been made with various aid agencies for the provision of chillers and furniture for both floors.

Sources also said that the federally funded hospital has received funds of Rs4.3 billion from time to time.

However, the Centre is yet to pay Rs3.6 billion of the project. Officials said that the Khyber Institute of Child Health project had been given a two-year extension and now the project will be completed by 2025.

However, if the project is not started immediately, it may require fresh PC-1 review, and the project could be delayed for another decade. Health department official said that money has also been demanded for the project under the capital side at the end of December.

It has also been decided to complete the purchase of equipment and machinery by January with the funds received in the first quarter.

According to sources, the hospital management will call a meeting next week in which the necessary OPD will be selected.

The surgical procedures in the hospital have been temporarily suspended.