Rejecting a proposal to spend Rs45 million on a new diagnostic laboratory at Jail Road, the King Edward Medical University (KEMU) Syndicate has recommended that the Mayo Hospital’s Pathology Lab be revamped first.
The KEMU Syndicate met the university on Wednesday.
Syndicate member and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Saeed Akbar Khan said, “We did not grant permission to purchase equipment for the new lab. The VC was advised to give a detailed presentation on the new lab.”
Another member of the syndicate who is a Professor said that a proposal to approve the purchase of equipment worth Rs45 million for the new lab was presented in the meeting.
He said that the syndicate had not approved the proposal and suggested that “the public laboratory should be equipped before a state-of-the-art private laboratory is made.”
Asked if the new laboratory project would be dropped, he said, “No. The project is continuing. Millions of rupees have been spent and a workforce is in place. We have just said that no more money will be spent on it unless the old pathology lab is improved.”
A member of the syndicate and professor at KEMU said, “Our advice was unanimous. First, improve the Pathology Lab at Mayo Hospital. Then chart out a path for the new lab.”
“Reports from the Pathology Lab are often faulty. The need to improve its facilities is dire,” he said.
However, KEMU VC Dr Asad Aslam Khan denied that he had demanded Rs45 million for the new lab.
He said that the required machinery has been imported and the lab is already functional.
“We only proposed the purchase of high quality chemicals used in different tests in the meeting,” he said.
He said that the minutes of the meeting would be compiled soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2012.
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