Due to rapid increase in hypertension and cardiac diseases, the turnover of cardiac patients in the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) has increased manifold. Despite the fact that 2200 open heart surgeries have been performed in one year in PIC, there is still a long list of waiting patients, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, said.
During a briefing on his visit to PIC, here on Thursday, Salman said the government is extending all out help and support to the PIC to provide quality healthcare facilities to cardiac patients. He appreciated the efforts of the PIC and said that provision of medicines to thousands of patients at a time is a very tough and extraordinary duty on the part of PIC.
The Chief Executive of PIC, Prof Dr Bilal Zakaria said the number of operation theatres has already increased from five to nine at the institute. He said that doctors, nurses and other staff is providing health facilities to the patients round the clock in the institute but due to rapid increase in cardiac diseases, the number of patients have also been increased manifold. He issued necessary instructions to the administration of PIC to minimize the difficulties of the patients coming to OPD and other departments of PIC.
He proposed that catchment areas should be marked with Multan Institute of Cardiology, Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology and Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology so that patients of nearby districts of these institutes may get health facilities at local level and they do not rush to PIC.
Medical Superintendent PIC, Dr Javed informed that 1800 to 2000 patients getting free medicines for one month from the OPD of PIC daily. Dr Javed disclosed that PIC administration has made compulsory to the patients to bring NIC while getting free medicines to ensure transparency.