Free treatment: PIC spends Rs 700m in 2012

LAHORE: The Punjab Institute of Cardiology has spent Rs700 million on provision of free medical facilities to patients under the Medical Treatment for All Without Discrimination programme in 2012. The institute provided treatment to 114,463 patients. As many as 127,812 patients were registered with the PIC for a routine check-up in 2012. PIC Chief Executive Prof Bilal Zakariya Khan announced this at a briefing to the media on the 2012 performance of the hospital on Sunday. PIC Medical Superintendent Dr Mohammad Javed, Assistant Medical Superintendent Dr Hamid Mahmood and Deputy Chief Nursing Superintendent Samina Yasmin were present. Dr Javed told journalists that 353,332 patients were provided free medicines at the PIC Outdoor Pharmacy. He said that 86,688 patients were treated free of cost out of 127,812 registered in 2012. He said that 19,024 deserving patients were not charged for their echo cardiography tests. Moreover, diagnostic tests like electro treadmill testing, angiography and thelma scanning were also done free of cost. Dr Javed said 1,373 out of 1,863 heart operations were carried out free of cost. Prof Zakariya said heart diseases were fast spreading. He said overeating, lack of exercise and social pressures were main causes for this trend.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2013.