PMDC to open asthma hospital in a few weeks

Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) asthma hospital, being completed at a cost of Rs 50 million at Khewra Salt Mines, will become operational in the next few weeks. The Asthma hospital, being set up inside Khewra Salt Mines, will have 50 beds for the cure of Asthma patients, Managing Director, PMDC, Brigadier Mohammad Khalid Sajjad Khokhar told reporters.
After inaugurating the building of the hospital at Salt Mines, Khewra, he said, it is being set up in line with the modern research.
He said the necessary equipment and paramedical staff will soon be made available.
According to scientific research, salt mines are the best place for cure of Asthma patients, he added.
The Managing Director said a 150-bed hospital established at Vieliczka Salt Mines in Poland is successfully providing medical treatment to Asthma patients.
In Khewra Salt Mine, natural treatment of Asthma will be carried out by simply spending some time inside the mine and inhaling salty air by asthmatics.
He said the Asthma hospital will be a unique example in the country where patients will be cured for three weeks so that they could get rid of this fatal disease permanently.
In this regard, the chief medial officer of the corporation, was sent to Poland for completed study and survey of hospital set up at Vieliczka Salt Mines.
Patients will be provided treatment under the research gathered from Vieliczka Salt Mines, he added.
The Managing Director announced that poor patients will get free treatment while a nominal fee will be charged from wealthy people.
To a question, he said the corporation is presently exporting 5,000 tons of salt annually.
"India is main importer of our salt but we are also looking towards the European and US markets," he added.
He said the production of salt, coal and other minerals has increased and benefits are being passed to the workers.
Brigadier Khalid Sajjad Khokhar said the process of the privatisation of the corporation is going ahead.
He, however, said the rights and interests of the workers will be protected.
He said the number of the tourists of Khewra Salt Mines is increasing and now more than 150,000 local and foreign tourists visit this beautiful mine every year.