CM orders submission of summary for Chitral, Mardan cancer hospitals land acquisition

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Wednesday ordered submission of summary for acquisition of land for establishment of cancer hospitals in Chitral and Mardan.

Chairing a meeting for establishment of new cancer hospitals and equipping the existing cancer hospitals in the province, he directed provision of facilities at the cancer hospitals in Abbottabad and Dera Ismail Khan forthwith.

Provincial Minister for Health Shahram Khan Tarakai, Secretary for Health Abid Majeed, members of the  Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) including Najeebullah, Dr Syed Javed Shah, Project Coordinator Dr Ihsanullah, Director IRNUM Peshawar Dr Rauf Khattak, Director Institute of Nuclear and Radio Therapy Abbottabad Dr Jawad, Director Dera Ismail Khan Institute of Nuclear Medicines and Radio Therapy Dr Amjad Aziz were present.

The PAEC team informed the chief minister that five cancer hospitals included IRNUM Peshawar and one each in Abbottabad, Bannu, Swat and Dera Ismail Khan were established with the cooperation of the provincial government.

They said the land had been provided by the provincial government for the establishment of these institutions while the infrastructure had been funded by the federal government. \The PAEC members praised the government for provision of huge amount for purchase of equipment and anti-cancer drugs for these institutions.

The PAEC members asked the government to acquire 40 Kanal land for extension of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Radio Therapy in Dera Ismail Khan. Similarly, they also asked the Chief Minister for acquisition of land for the establishment of cancer hospital in Mardan and Chitral.

Likewise, they demanded further land for installation of latest Linear Accelerator, provided by the federal government at the Institute of Nuclear Therapy & Radiology at Ayub Medical College Abbottabad. The visiting experts requested chief minister for allocation of funds for purchase of anti-cancer drugs for cancer hospitals in the province.

The chief minister directed health authorities to submit summary for acquisition of lands. He also ordered authorities to speed up steps to ensure smooth implementation of these projects. He further said that the provincial government had initiated revolutionary steps for betterment of the health sector. The chief minister said that staff presence had been assured in the hospitals through introduction of monitoring mechanism.