Rs3bn announced for state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility at JPMC

CM Murad expresses commitment to make the hospital a world-class healthcare unit

Sindh’s chief minister has announced a grant of Rs3 billion for the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) so it could provide state-of-the-art cancer treatment free of charge.

Presiding over a briefing at the hospital’s Department of Radiology on Wednesday, CM Syed Murad Ali Shah said he was committed to making the JPMC a world-class facility.

On his visit to the health facility, the chief executive was accompanied by Health Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro, CM’s Principal Secretary Sohail Rajput and other government officials.

The briefing was also attended by Patients Aid Foundation Chairman Zahid Bashir, Executive Committee Chairman Mushtaq Chhapra, JPMC Executive Director Dr Seemin Jamali, Shabbir Dewan, Peer Mohammad Diwan and other members of the foundation.

Prof Tariq Mahmood of the hospital’s radiology department gave a presentation on the existing facility set up by the foundation and its future requirements to transform the JPMC into a world-class facility as part of public-private partnership.

The Jinnah Hospital plans to establish a 12-storeyed cancer institute, which would be equipped with diagnosing and treating all types of cancer under one roof without any charge to the patients.

Mahmood said the total cost of the scheme would be Rs6 billion, half of which was being arranged by the foundation. On this the CM announced providing the remaining amount to complete the project.

“I am committed to you [the hospital] and to my people for providing them with the best health facilities, particularly for curing cancer in the early stages,” said the chief executive.

He was briefed on the outpatient department (OPD) and the surgical complex that were near completion. He said he had allocated Rs425 million in the current budget for purchasing medical equipment.

“This would be sufficient to activate eight operation theatres at the complex, and I shall make more funds available to the hospital when and if required.”

The Patients Aid Foundation is also arranging Rs700 million for completing and equipping the 10 operating theatres situated on the top floor of the JPMC.

CM Shah lauded the foundation’s efforts, especially for the under-construction OPD and surgical complex. He pledged to provide Rs700 million for them on top of Rs3 billion for the cancer institute for 2018-20.

The foundation’s Mushtaq Chhapra complimented the chief executive on his far-sightedness in making bold decisions for the betterment of the people of Sindh. He said that under Shah the Sindh government had shown great promise to provide quality health care.

The CM also instructed Prof Tariq Mahmood to increase the scope of services of the cancer institute to more parts of the province through satellite units.

Earlier, Shah had offered prayers for marking the opening of the cyclotron and PET/CT facility. Later, he was shown the new cyclotron, CyberKnife robotic surgery, parts of the radiology department and other areas set up under public-private partnership.

After the briefing the chief executive told the media that the new cyclotron and the CyberKnife centre had started functioning. He proudly added that it was the first-ever facility in the country where cancer patients were treated for free.

He said patients from 12 countries, including Bahrain and Afghanistan, preferred to visit the facility for treatment. “This is an expensive treatment that costs a patient between Rs5 million and Rs10 million, but we have made it possible at the JPMC for free.”

The chief executive said 44 per cent of the patients belonged to Sindh, 34 per cent to Punjab and the remaining to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He also said the process to recruit over 6,000 doctors had reached the final stages. “Once the recruitment is completed, most of the hospitals facing shortage of doctors would start functioning to their full strength.”

Responding to a question, he said Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar had not read the budget book.

“More than 317 projects would to be completed in Karachi during the next fiscal year because they have been fully funded.”