Sindh Health Department is considering proposals to establish six hospitals in major cities of the province at an estimated cost of Rs 250 million. These hospitals would be first of their kind established anywhere in the country.
The six hospitals include one Sindh Institute of Diagnostic Care, Karachi Institute of Geriatric Health (KIGH), and one Karachi Institute of Psychiatric Health (KIPH).
Health department sources told Business Recorder on Friday that these proposals are prepared by Dr Asif, a public health expert, and has been forwarded to Sindh Government by Shakir Ali, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA.
Out of the four Sindh Institute of Diagnostic Care (SIDC) one will be established in Karachi, one in Mirpur Khas, one in Sukkar and one in Jacobabad and these hospitals would be established at the cost of Rs 150 million.
"The proposed project has been planned to provide diagnostic care facilities to the patients and to provide quality services to them", sources added. "These institutes will be helpful in combating any calamity and major road s accidents by providing diagnostic facilities," they said and added blood related services would be on the top of priority.
In proposal of SIDC, it is reported that 1.4 million citizens of Karachi have only 30 reliable diagnostic laboratories in which diagnostic test have become very expensive almost out of the reach of the common man. "There is an immense need of a modern well-equipped central diagnostic centre, to be established in main cities of Sindh, which will be used both for the screening of blood and specific tests", this has been proposed in plan.
Official said that on similar line health department has planned to construct Karachi Institute of Geriatric Health (KIGH) which will be first of its kind in Pakistan. This institute would be constructed in Karachi and it will cost Rs 50 million.
"It will have direct effect in providing health care facilities to senior citizens as they are not less than 20 million", proposal said. The proposal envisages the establishment of geriatric institution , a long standing desire and demand of the 60+ citizens and it is ironic that senior citizens have to wait in long queues at public hospitals for their turn.
The proposal of another project namely Karachi Institute of Psychiatric Health is also under consideration. It will be constructed at Karachi and will cost Rs 50 million.
"About 47 percent of our population faces depression, 14 percent anxiety disorders so there is a great need for this institute as this will help in providing awareness and improving psychosocial health of people of Sindh", proposal said. After the approval of the recommendations by the health department, directives would be issued to prepare PC-I of the proposals, officials said.