Punjab government working on plan for renovation of Benazir Bhutto Hospital

Rawalpindi

The Punjab government is working on a plan for renovation of Benazir Bhutto Hospital for which a huge amount of Rs800 millions have been allocated, stated former MNA and Chairman of Developmental Works, Rawalpindi, Hanif Abbasi here Friday morning.

Talking to ‘The News’ at his residence, Hanif Abbasi told under the work plan of renovation and revamping of BBH, about 60 per cent of the work of the ground floor of OPD, the corridor of the ground and the first floor of the hospital besides Urology Block, Library and exterior of the OPD have been completed while the remaining work would be finished within next 45 days. An amount of Rs68 million is being spent on it out of the total allocation of funds worth Rs800 million. At present OPD building is more than 30 years old and do not cater to the increasing patient load. Additional block is under the plan for Rehab and Dermatology Department. This would help in reducing congestion in existing OPD.

The inauguration of the OPD section of BBH would be made on August 8 this year while the Urology Block would be inaugurated on August 14, Hanif Abbasi said. The renovation and revamping work is being carried out to make BBH a model hospital equipped with all kind of facilities.

Similarly, out of the total allocation of funds, Rs40 million are earmarked for renovation and upgradation of existing private block of BBH because since its construction only minor repair work has been done over the last 40 years. The building needs major repair of all the rooms and roof treatment in order to make 26 private rooms functional. At present only 6 private rooms are functioning which were repaired some 12 years back.

Development of main parking area at Psychiatry side is also under the working plan. He said that no proper/covered parking area is available at present. The space allocated for the parking does not cater the load of visitors. Further vehicles of doctors and staff are parked on the way/passage. Therefore, it is dire need to develop parking area at psychiatry side. On this component Rs10 million would be spent.

The PML (N) leader said that the hospital internal water supply pipeline has completed its utility as it is more than 30 years. According to hospital management there is a constant leakage of water from different points resulting wastage of water and interruption in supply. Pipelines need to be replaced, he said. Now Rs6.50 million has been sanctioned for this purpose, he said.

The system of main electric panel and separate generator supply wiring in hospital is very old and in very poor condition and Rs12.50 millions are being spent for its replacement with latest modules.

Besides enforcing renovation work, sizeable amount is also earmarked for procurement of machines like MRI, PACS/CR system for radiology department, 2 X-ray machines, one Echo machine, 4 anesthesia machines etc.

Similarly, development of patient waiting area, conversion of present canteen into Block for MRI machine is also in the plan besides renovation of hostels for doctors and nurses.

Sewerage system of the hospital is chocked at different points like urology ward and laundry building side. There the upgradation of the system would be done under the plan, he concluded.