"A doctor and a pharmacist, this combination is a must for running a hospital in a best possible way any where in the world and so they do for our country. Together they can form a team that gives fully satisfied treatment to patients. A pharmacy director is the need of any hospital, who can update doctors and the hospital about medicines and also checks pilferage of medicines from hospitals."
Federal health ministry deputy director-general and Pakistan Pharmacist's Association (PPA) president Dr Ali Akbar Sial said this about the "importance of pharmacists in hospitals" while visiting the Burns Centre at the Civil Hospital on Saturday.
He said treatment costs less when there is a pharmacist in the hospital and added that there should be one pharmacist for a 40-bed hospital.
He also talked to patients and asked about their health and treatment being given to them at the Burns Centre.
Friends of Burns Centre Association president Muhammad Abdullah Feroz, which arranged funds for the Burns Center briefed the health ministry deputy director-general about the hospital's management and matters pertaining to raising of funds. The hospital has 66 beds and is currently giving treatment to 30 patients.
He urged philanthropists to contribute to the fund, as the Burns Centre is providing 100 percent free treatment to its patients, as most of the burn victims are workers and underprivileged people, who cannot afford the costly treatment, which is Rs 100,000 to Rs 150,000 per patient.
The hospital also receives Zakat from the federal and provincial governments. Last year Rs 500,000 were given by the Zakat Council and the hospital will receive Rs 1 million this year.
Friends of Burns Centre executive-director Dr Dabirur Rehman, PPA vice-president M. Saleh and general-secretary Syed Kalb-e-Hasan Rizvi were also present on the occasion. Muhammad Abdullah Feroz presented a memorial shield to Dr Ali Akbar Sial. Dr Saeed Qureshi gave vote of thanks.