Children Hospital: steps taken to make bone marrow transplant centre functional

Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh Salman Rafique has said that steps are being taken to make the bone marrow transplant centre functional in Children Hospital for the patients of blood cancer, during the current year. "The government has provided Rs 700 million for the completion of Surgical Tower Mayo Hospital and efforts are underway to make the surgical tower operational during the current financial year," Salman said while presiding over a meeting to review the pace of work on both the projects at Children Hospital.
Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Najam Ahmed Shah, Dean Children Hospital Professor Masood Sadiq, Medical Director Professor Ahsan Waheed Rathore, Additional Secretary (Technical) Dr Salman Shahid, Chief Planning Officer Abdul Haq Bhatti, Medical Superintendent Mayo Hospital Dr Amjad Shehzad, Project Director Surgical Tower Professor Abrar Ashraf, officers of Communication & Works Department.
Professor Ahsan Rathore informed that the paedtric cancer ward of Children Hospital has been expanded from 30 beds to 60 beds and all latest facilities for the treatment of haematology and paedtric oncology are being provided in the ward. He said that completion of bone marrow transplantation is also in its final stage. Training of doctors and nursing staff for the centre has already been completed. Dean Professor Masood Sadiq said that bone marrow transplant centre would be a ray a hope for the children suffering from blood cancer.
The meeting was informed that 90 percent civil work of surgical tower Mayo Hospital has been completed and 80 percent installation work of HVAC system has also been completed. Project Director Professor Abrar Ashraf informed that procurement process of medical equipment for the surgical tower has also been started. Kh Salman Rafique directed that since the government has provided sufficient funds for the completion of surgical tower therefore, the completion work of surgical tower must be carried out on fast track. Meanwhile, Salman Rafique inaugurated two ambulances worth Rs 15 million, loaded with all necessary medical equipments and ventilators.