PM opens National ‘Hoopla’ Complex
Some officials allege the project has provided no real development.
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani formally opened the National Health Complex at the National Institute of Health (NIH) at Chak Shahzad on Monday, fulfilling a longstanding demand of the rural populace of the capital city. However, sources in the health department alleged that the development is far less than what meets the eye.
The PM had authorised Rs50 million for the project, of which Rs30 million have been spent so far.
The complex houses the capital’s first medical and dental college with a hostel for girl students, a 200-bed hospital, an upgraded centre for allergy and out-patient department, the Public Health Information Resource Centre, a National Control Laboratory for Biological Sciences, the National Health Emergency Response Network, and the Federal Drugs Surveillance Laboratory.
The complex provides disease surveillance and control facility, vaccine production, environmental health, education and development of skilled health professionals, promotion of scientific research and health emergency management -- all within a period of three months.
The old NIH building, according to the government, has been renovated and spruced to house these units.
Premier Gilani speaking on the occasion said the entire project was completed in “the most innovative and remarkable manner pooling available resources without burdening the national exchequer”.
He said a key objective of showcasing this model in Islamabad was to encourage the provinces to emulate and establish such facilities for the people, where one-stop solutions are provided.
However, some officials say that most of the facilities were already there and the renovation was an attempt to give the building a facelift.
Repainting the building, installing a new gate, removing shrubs in the vicinity, changing names of departments, relocating the FMDC and placing an inauguration board is “no real development”, the source said. The only real development is the establishment of a laboratory and a veranda, the source added.
A similar attempt was made earlier when an old building of a rural health centre (RHC) in Bhara Kahu was renovated and declared a “mini hospital”, the source said.
But the premier said, “We provided a model health facility for people of Bhara Kahu. We converted an almost non-functional health centre into a quality mini-hospital where the people of the area were provided all major services under one roof.”
Gilani said the Federal Medical and Dental College will cater to the longstanding demand of the residents of Islamabad who had to send their children for medical education to other cities.
The PM said he was informed by the Secretary Cabinet that the admission process had been completed in the most transparent manner through the National Testing Service and out of approximately 7,000 applicants, 100 top students have been given admission as per laid down quota in the constitution.
He announced full educational scholarship to the first 20 students.
Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi, who spearheaded the project, said, “It is not a brick and mortar project, neither is it a multi-million rupees venture. It definitely is not part of a five year plan nor is it a foreign funded initiative. It is only a humble example of what we can create with what we have.”
Perhaps the cabinet secretary’s views were more reflective of the ground realities.
Federal ministers, eminent doctors and scientists, members of the diplomatic community and the parliament attended the inauguration ceremony.
PM inaugurates mobile book club
Prime Minister Gilani also inaugurated a mobile book club and shop “Book on Wheels”, a project initiated by the National Book Foundation (NBF), said a press release issued on Monday. Talking to media, the premier said the NBF book clubs will help promote a book reading culture in the country. NBF Managing Director and noted short-story writer Mazharul Islam, who was also present on the occasion, said the idea of a mobile book club was proposed Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi. He further said that the NBF has launched several book clubs in hospitals, villages, airport lounges, trains, and railways stations.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2012.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani formally opened the National Health Complex at the National Institute of Health (NIH) at Chak Shahzad on Monday, fulfilling a longstanding demand of the rural populace of the capital city. However, sources in the health department alleged that the development is far less than what meets the eye.
The PM had authorised Rs50 million for the project, of which Rs30 million have been spent so far.
The complex houses the capital’s first medical and dental college with a hostel for girl students, a 200-bed hospital, an upgraded centre for allergy and out-patient department, the Public Health Information Resource Centre, a National Control Laboratory for Biological Sciences, the National Health Emergency Response Network, and the Federal Drugs Surveillance Laboratory.
The complex provides disease surveillance and control facility, vaccine production, environmental health, education and development of skilled health professionals, promotion of scientific research and health emergency management -- all within a period of three months.
The old NIH building, according to the government, has been renovated and spruced to house these units.
Premier Gilani speaking on the occasion said the entire project was completed in “the most innovative and remarkable manner pooling available resources without burdening the national exchequer”.
He said a key objective of showcasing this model in Islamabad was to encourage the provinces to emulate and establish such facilities for the people, where one-stop solutions are provided.
However, some officials say that most of the facilities were already there and the renovation was an attempt to give the building a facelift.
Repainting the building, installing a new gate, removing shrubs in the vicinity, changing names of departments, relocating the FMDC and placing an inauguration board is “no real development”, the source said. The only real development is the establishment of a laboratory and a veranda, the source added.
A similar attempt was made earlier when an old building of a rural health centre (RHC) in Bhara Kahu was renovated and declared a “mini hospital”, the source said.
But the premier said, “We provided a model health facility for people of Bhara Kahu. We converted an almost non-functional health centre into a quality mini-hospital where the people of the area were provided all major services under one roof.”
Gilani said the Federal Medical and Dental College will cater to the longstanding demand of the residents of Islamabad who had to send their children for medical education to other cities.
The PM said he was informed by the Secretary Cabinet that the admission process had been completed in the most transparent manner through the National Testing Service and out of approximately 7,000 applicants, 100 top students have been given admission as per laid down quota in the constitution.
He announced full educational scholarship to the first 20 students.
Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi, who spearheaded the project, said, “It is not a brick and mortar project, neither is it a multi-million rupees venture. It definitely is not part of a five year plan nor is it a foreign funded initiative. It is only a humble example of what we can create with what we have.”
Perhaps the cabinet secretary’s views were more reflective of the ground realities.
Federal ministers, eminent doctors and scientists, members of the diplomatic community and the parliament attended the inauguration ceremony.
PM inaugurates mobile book club
Prime Minister Gilani also inaugurated a mobile book club and shop “Book on Wheels”, a project initiated by the National Book Foundation (NBF), said a press release issued on Monday. Talking to media, the premier said the NBF book clubs will help promote a book reading culture in the country. NBF Managing Director and noted short-story writer Mazharul Islam, who was also present on the occasion, said the idea of a mobile book club was proposed Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi. He further said that the NBF has launched several book clubs in hospitals, villages, airport lounges, trains, and railways stations.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2012.