Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has arranged public hearing on 'Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of International Islamic Medical Trust (IIMCT) - 350 Bed Teaching Hospital and University Campus Project' Islamabad, costing Rs 8,753 million.
Talking to Business Recorder, Pak-EPA official said that under the provision of Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 and IEE/EIA Regulations 2000, International Islamic Medical College Trust has submitted the EIA report on IIMCT 350-Bed Teaching Hospital and University Campus project.
Therefore as per the IEE/EIA regulation 2000, Pak-EPA issued a public notice, which appeared in the leading national newspapers on September 16, 2009 for inviting comments from general public and other stakeholders.
"In this regard a follow up review and public consultation process, public hearing of subject EIA, will be held on October 15, 2009", said official. Sharing the details of the project the official said that it is a four-year project, IIMCT plans to construct a 350-Bed Teaching Hospital and University Campus in the capital. For this IIMCT has acquired 190 Kanals from Capital Development Authority (CDA).
"There is no issue of land acquisition or resettlement of communities due to the project", the official added. The objective of the project is to establish a treatment environment in all dimensions of healthcare delivery and to provide high quality medical education at tertiary level.
The project consists of a teaching hospital with 350 beds, including both high quality care, and 25 observation beds. The University Campus will provide undergraduate and post graduate medical and allied educational facilities including clinical pharmacology, vocational training of paramedical staff and medical technicians.
"The project will provide improved healthcare facilities for the increasing population of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, create new jobs for the communities of adjourning areas and arrange training programmes for better community response in case of a disaster", official maintained.
The present population of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad is 3 million, which is being served by 13,500 beds capacity of small and big hospitals of both public and private sectors. However, these hospitals also receive patients from NWFP and Northern areas. "Therefore, due to this the hospitals are always under stress to accommodate more patients and there is urgent need for more hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad", official added.
On the other hand there are 8 medical institutions run both by public and private sector in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Their total annual intake is only 1,195 students. Every year about 6,000 students apply for admissions of which 4,805 students are unable to get admission due to limited seats. The official was hopeful that the project would help in catering the need of medical institution in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
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