Lack of funds: 1,000 more beds for Polyclinic come at a ‘price’

PM announces expansion of the hospital, administration still awaits funds.

ISLAMABAD:

Much-delayed and desperately needed, an extension project for the city’s oldest, and arguably most cramped hospital, finally seems to be on the cards. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is all set to perform the ground breaking ceremony for the Polyclinic Hospital extension, which will add 1,000 beds to the facility. He made this announcement at a meeting with the Argentinean Ambassador Rodolfo Martin Saravi, on Monday.

The administration of the hospital, on the other hand, is still awaiting funds to make preparations for the expansion project. The process, which has been facing delays since the devolution of the Ministry of Health, is expected to be bolstered by the PM’s announcement.

The extension to the hospital will be built on one-third of Argentina Park, which is directly behind Polyclinic.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Polyclinic Hospital’s Deputy Executive Director Dr Iftikhar Naru termed the meeting as “beneficial”, adding that it may help the hospital administration to get funds released quickly and that the work might start sooner.

“Hopefully the Rs67 million needed will be released soon,” he said.

Sharing the details, he said the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had sent a demand note worth Rs55 million to the hospital administration to get legal possession of the 2.54 acres adjacent to the hospital building and currently a part of Argentina Park.

The PC-I of this project was approved in February this year after the approval from the Prime Minister, he said. “All it (project) has been waiting for ever since are funds,” he said.

An amount of Rs12 million is also required for the detailed technical architectural design of the new building, soil testing and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). With the PC-II of this project prepared as well, work will begin as soon as the finances are made available, added another official.

Polyclinic, previously known as Federal Government Services Hospital, was established in 1966 at 3.3 acres of land to provide healthcare facilities for the federal government employees. However, since then the number of beds has increased from 50 to 550, but the area has remained same.

“The patient-load is increasing by the day, as about 3 million patients visit the hospital annually, out of which 1,000 visit the emergency ward daily,” said Dr Naru. Besides this, the increasing number of employees working at the hospital is also making the hospital really congested, he added.

Around seven years back the hospital administration decided to expand the building and add latest health facilities and technology.

The expansion of the hospital remained pending for years as CDA was not clearing Argentina Park for the project. Later, the Senate Standing Committee on Health and the Government of Argentina took the matter seriously and resolved the issue between the hospital and civic authority.

The devolution of the Ministry of Health in June also stalled the project.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Polyclinic Hospital Spokesperson Dr Sharif Astori said the staff faces great difficulty while treating patients due to the shortage of space.

Presently, important medical tests such as computerised tomography (CT scan) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are not being done at the hospital, as there are no rooms available to install the required equipment.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2011.