Healthcare: ‘332,069 patients with liver diseases treated’

Govt is taking steps to strengthen the health sector, says DCO.

FAISALABAD:

At least 12 per cent of the country’s population has suffered from hepatitis B or C, and one-third of all beds at teaching hospitals in Pakistan are occupied by patients with liver diseases, said health experts on Tuesday.

They were speaking at a meeting organised by the Liver Foundation Trust at the divisional headquarters hospital’s Liver Centre.

Liver Foundation Trust Chairman Dr Zahid Yaseen Hashmi said the 50-bed liver centre was set up at the hospital in July 2005 through a public-private partnership programme.

He said 332,069 liver patients had been treated at the centre so far.

Hashmi said an outdoor patients’ programme (OPD) was functioning six-days-a-week at the centre.

He said round-the-clock emergency services were also being provided.

“An intensive care unit, a pharmacy, a drug bank, a state-of-the-art lab, ultra sound and doppler and endoscopy units are also available,” he said.

The chairman said mobile liver units had also been arranged to provide screening, diagnostic and medical facilities to the liver patients.

DCO Najam Ahmad Shah presided over the meeting and visited the centre. He praised the advanced medical facilities being made available to liver patients.

He said the government was taking concrete steps to strengthen the health sector but the role of community in combating fatal diseases could not be overlooked.

The DCO said the district government would help the liver centre expand further.

“A suitable place to set up a satellite liver centre would also be provided,” he said.

He said the district administration intended to benefit from the non-profitable institutions involved in public welfare and social development activities.

Liver Foundation Trust Finance Director Mian Ashfaq Ahmad presented a performance report of the centre. He said vaccination and anti-viral treatments were being provided under arrangements by the trust.

Later, the DCO cut the cake to celebrate 8th anniversary of the Liver Trust Foundation and prayed for its progress.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2013.