CM wants angioplasty centre in Sehwan by end of July

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday directed the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) administration to establish a satellite angioplasty centre at the Syed Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences (SASIMS), Sehwan.

He also directed the NICVD management to start conducting angioplasties at the SASIMS by the end of this month. Presiding over a meeting of the SASIMS board of governors at his office, the chief minister said he had already issued directives to the NICVD to set up its satellite centre at the SASIMS. “But no progress has been made in this regard,” he deplored. 

During the meeting, the CM was told that all arrangements had been made for the start of satellite angioplasty centre but the NICVD had yet to start its work. The chief directed his principal secretary to coordinate with the NICVD management and start conducting angioplasties at the SASIMS by the end of this month.

The meeting was attended health minister Dr Siokandar Mendhro, health secretary Dr Fazal Pechuho, principal secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Syed Asif Shah, SASIMS Director Dr Ahsan Siddiqui, GIMS Director Dr Raheem Bux Bhatti and others.

The meeting approved an annual budget of Rs862.964 million for the institute for the current fiscal year of 2017-18. The meeting also approved purchase of new equipment, including as 12 baby incubators, oxygen gas generation plant, central oxygen gas supply system, PRC machine, microbiological equipments, digital X-ray plant, binocular ophthalmic operating microscope, auto refractometer, cataract surgery set, Tonometer, retino scope, Incinator, oxygen cylinders, ventilators, OT table and ABG machine.

The meeting was told that the government had given Rs100 million to the institute for payment of salaries, purchase of some approved equipment and hiring of more doctors. On this, the chief minister directed his principle secretary to hire an auditor of the state bank to audit the expenditures made so far.

The CM said he was sure that every penny would have been spent judiciously. He urged the board of governors to support him to make the institute a model centre in terms of honesty, efficiency and facilities. The meeting was also informed that with the approval of the board of governors, 46 doctors had been hired for a period of three months and that the fresh hiring had improved the service delivery in OPD and indoor departments.