Renovation of Islamabad hospitals to cost Rs 558 million

The government has been executing schemes worth Rs 558 million for upgradation and renovation of two major hospitals in the federal capital including Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH).According to a report published by the Ministry of Health a scheme for up-gradation and renovation of PIMS was being implemented at a cost of Rs 273 million.
Under the scheme the outdated/obsolete equipment has been replaced in almost all the departments including the procurement of new CT scan at a cost of Rs 35 million.
Major civil works including the improvement of internal roads, roof of the building and other facilities has been carried out. A medical ICU has been established with the help of French assistance, report said.
According to report, an amount of Rs 6 million has been provided for extension of operation theatres.
Two PC-I costing Rs 331.108 million and Rs 190 million respectively have been approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) for the establishment of Cardiac Surgery Unit and Burn Care Unit at PIMS.
Another PC-I of Rs 174 million has been approved by Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for Children Hospital.
Up-gradation scheme of FGSH was also being undertaken at a cost of Rs 285 million. An amount of Rs 91.340 million was spent on this project upto June 2003 and a provision of Rs 40.863 million has been made during current financial year.
The report further said that a new maternity ward was constructed at a cost of Rs 23 million while provision for purchase of equipment worth Rs 20 million including a color Doppler machine and ultra sound equipment has been made under Women Health Project.
However, after spending huge money on renovation and up-gradation of these hospitals, patients have still been suffering in the federal capital because of medicines' shortage.
The government has established medical stores in hospitals to provide medicines on cheaper rates but people have plethora of complaints regarding shortage of medicines in those stores.
Irregularities in medical stores have also been unearthed so many times but no foolproof arrangement could be made to rectify the situation.
Outdated and obsolete equipment like CT scan and ultra sound machines in PIMS and FGSH have provided opportunities to private hospitals to fleece poor patients.