250-bed cardiac facility nearly ready

CM orders early functionalisation of PIC-II in Lahore

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to make the Punjab Institute of Cardiology-II (PIC-II) functional as soon as possible after the completion of its construction.

During visit to the site of the PIC-II project near the canal in the provincial capital, the chief minister reviewed the ongoing construction work in various sections of the building.

"With the establishment of PIC-II, the pressure of patients on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology will be reduced," she said on the occasion.

The chief minister also checked the quality of the construction material and reviewed related issues.

She said, "Implementation of a plan to provide complete cardiology facilities in every district has started."

She said surgeries of hundreds of children had been completed quite easily by introducing a card system for paediatric heart surgery.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was briefed in detail about the PIC-II project by Punjab Infrastructure Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Shah Mir Iqbal.

According to an official statement, the chief minister gave guidelines to improve the design. She directed the relevant authorities to ensure the supply of machinery required for the PIC-II project.

She was informed that the PIC-II would consist of 250 beds and state-of-the-art hybrid operation theatres would be built in it.

Emergency, surgical and medical units along with intensive care units (ICUs) will be built in the PIC-II.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was informed during the briefing that than 90 per cent of the gray structure of PIC-II had been completed.

Meanwhile, Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir has reiterated that access to quality medicines is a fundamental right of the people and there would be no compromise on the matter.

He was speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Punjab Chemist Council on Sunday.

The minister assured the council of the government's commitment to address its legitimate demands.

He highlighted that an ongoing campaign against quackery across the province would be intensified in the coming weeks.

The minister urged the chemists council to fully cooperate with the health authorities in combating artificial shortage and hoarding of medicines.

"The health department is carrying out digital monitoring of medicine supplies in the markets," said Khawaja Imran Nazir, adding that the sale of life-saving medicines at inflated prices will not be tolerated.

The Punjab Chemist Council delegation informed the minister about various issues and demands related to the availability and regulation of medicines.

The council's president Nisar Chaudhry assured the department of the cooperation in tackling quackery and preventing artificial shortages.

Chief Drug Controller Azhar Jamal Salimi also attended the meeting.

With additional input from APP