International cooperation: CM inaugurates Erdogan Hospital

Says the 100-bed facility will be upgraded to 500 beds in two years.


Our Correspondent May 07, 2015
PHOTO: NNI

DERA GHAZI KHAN:


Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital in Muzaffargarh on Thursday.


Turkish President Erdogan addressed the ceremony via video link. Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq, National Assembly Member (MNA) Amjad Farooq Khosa, former senator Jamal Khan Leghari was also present.

Addressing participants, the chief minister said the hospital would end the disparity between rich and poor. He said the hospital would address health woes in south Punjab. He said in two years, the 100-bed facility would be upgraded to 500 beds.



He said it would soon be made a teaching hospital and would have a nursing institute and research and development centre.

The chief minister said the government had acquired for this purpose. He said funds in this regard would be released in July.

The chief minister said the working of the hospital would be replicated in basic health units. He said the hospital had been made a trust.

He said it would be run by an NGO, Indus. Sharif said the hospital would provide free treatment to the poor. He said its Orthopaedic Department would develop artificial limbs for the disabled.

The chief minister thanked the Turkish government for constructing the hospital.

Addressing Erdogan, the chief minister said Pakistan had not forgotten the help extended by his government during floods in 2010.

“The president’s daughter visited Pakistan and his wife gathered funds for relief of flood-hit Pakistani citizens,” he said.

He said the government had planned a number of programmes in collaboration with the Turkish government.

“We will soon open a girl’s high school in Muzaffargarh,” he said. He invited the Turkish president to inaugurate it.

The chief minister visited various departments in the hospital and spoke to patients and their attendants.

“During my tour of the hospital, I learnt that there were dozens of patients from far flung areas who had come here to seek treatment,” he said.

He said Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital would serve as a model hospital.

“There will be no strikes or OPD boycotts here,” he said.

Addressing the ceremony, Erdogan said Turkey was proud of its relationship with Pakistan.

“This [hospital] is a gift for Pakistani people from their Turkish brethren,” the chief minister said.

He further said helping those affected by floods was his top priority. “We want to extend our cooperation to the world,” the chief minister said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8th, 2015.

 

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