Peshawar Institute of Cardiology to have all facilities, says minister

PESHAWAR:  Health Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai Sunday said that the state-of-the-art machinery, modern technology, specialist doctors, nurses and paramedics facilities would be ensured in the long-awaited newly constructed Peshawar Institute of Cardiology.

During his recent visit to the institute in Hayatabad, ?he said the facility would cater to the needs of the patients coming from all over the province and adjoining tribal areas, Azaad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Afghanistan. “The hospital will provide free emergency treatment to patients,” he added.

Shahram Tarakai instructed the authorities to complete the construction work of the institute by June 30 this year or else be ready for a strict action. He assured that all the demands for completion of the project would be met on emergency basis.

Work on the institute started during the Muttahida M?ajlis-e-Amal government and couldn’t be completed even during the previous coalition government of Awami National Party and Pakistan People’s Party for a host of reasons.

Khyber Medical University (KMU) Vice-Chancellor and Project Director of the institute Prof Dr Mohammad Hafizullah, Dean of PGMI and Deputy Project Director of PIC Prof Dr Riaz Anwar, Chief Planning Officer Health Department, XEN Works and Services Department, contractor and consultant of the project were also present on the occasion.

Dr Hafizullah briefed the minister about the project. He said the institute was spread over 34 kanal of land and had cost Rs1.794.42 billion so far. Up to 95 per cent of work has been completed and the institute would be functional soon after installation of equipment and sanctioning of the posts, he added. 

The project director said it will be a 350-bed specialised hospital where OPD facilities would also be provided to more than 400 patients per day. In a single day, 10 patients will be able to undergo cardiac surgery in this institute. It is also equipped with angiography machines and a number of modern operation theatres, Cath and Pathology laboratories, he said, adding the institute will have a modern emergency department with 50 beds.

Other departments at the hospital will include a 50-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Coronary Care Unit (CCU).It will be the only hospital in the province where all the treatment as well as training and research facilities about the heart diseases would be provided under the one roof.