Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has assured the management of Cantonment General Hospital (CGH) a grant of Rs 250 million for overcoming the shortage of staff and improving performance of the hospital.
"Main aim of the government is to provide better health-care to general public in every nook and corner of the country. We are increasing funds for health-care facilities and improved performance of the hospital," Minister said while talking to reporters during his visit to CGH on Friday.
Rawalpindi Cantonment Station Commander Brigadier Waqar Raja, Dr Jamal Nasir and other renowned personalities were present on the occasion. Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Waqar Azam briefed the minister about performance of the hospital and the financial problems affecting it.
Sheikh Rashid also assured funds for the establishment of nursing and para-medical school in the hospital and said those two facilities in hospital would help further educate para-medical and nursing staff.
Minister said in the past his attention was towards the establishment of educational institutions. "It is imperative for a nation to attain the highest literacy rate to remain in race with developed nations", he added. Rawalpindi, he said has attained the top position in education and literacy in country.
He said now his emphasise was to set up hospitals in Rawalpindi and rupees four billion cost 400-bed hospital project inaugurated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was first step towards this direction. "I used my efforts and energies to get huge funds for the socio economic development of this district and I am sure that with the passage of time this district would be a model district of Pakistan.
Responding to questions from media person, Sheikh Rashid rejected the hue and cry being raised by opposition parties about rigging in local body polls saying that there was no reality in the pre-poll or post poll rigging from the government. "Every candidate would get vote on the basis of his past performance", he added.
"We have invited world media to monitor the upcoming Local Body polls", he said adding that that was enough to remove doubts the opposition has expressed. He said opposition was feeling clear defeat in LB polls so that it has raised the hue and cry of the rigging.
Talking on the successful test-fire of Babur Cruise Missile, minister said it was a great gift for nation by the scientists and engineers of country on the eve of Independence Day. "It has doubled the taste of the Independence Day celebration and our scientists have made the defence impregnable".
Earlier, Dr Waqar in his briefing told minister that CGH was a 500-bed hospital out of which only 120 beds were operative. Funds being provided to hospital by Cantonment Board were not enough even to make those 120-beds operatives.
"We are getting just 6 per cent of the Cantonment Board budget, which is insufficient and could not help run hospital and overcome the shortage of Staff," he added.
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