Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has released one billion rupees for establishing the first ever cardiology institute, equipped with latest treatment facilities, in Multan.
More than 400 to 500 cardiac patients have been visiting the out-patient department of the Multan Institute of Cardiology (MIC) daily for treatment.
International cardiologist and senior consultant at the MIC Dr Haroon A.K. Babar stated this while briefing the journalist. He said: "Basically, the MIC is a research-oriented institution that would be recognised world over."
With the provision of state-of-the-art technology and modern machinery in the MIC, more than 20 million people of the south Punjab, comprising former divisions of Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur, besides adjoining regions of NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan would benefit from this institute, he said.
Explaining the cardiac problems, he said congested environment and throat infection could affect the heart valves, which was major problem in Multan while poverty, illiteracy were playing key role in their promotion.
To a question on child heart surgery facilities in Pakistan, he said there were no incentives for doctors here as compared to India.
The child heart care doctors were not available in Pakistan and as a result, patients preferred India to get treatment by the doctors specialised in this particular field, he added.
He further said the most common cardiac problems included rheumatic, valvular heart diseases, valve damage on late diagnose, besides angina which could be rooted out by creating awareness among the general public.
Dr Babar said the MIC was the second largest institute of its kind in the province and its outpatient department had been providing treatment to the patients.
The MIC has been introducing a new form of working to provide training to general practitioners to deal with patients.