Due to the rapid increase in hypertension and cardiac diseases, the number of patients visiting the Punjab Institute of Cardiology has increased drastically. In spite of the fact that 2, 200 open heart surgeries have been performed in one year in the PIC, there is still a long list of patients waiting for their procedures. This was told to Chief Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique during his visit to the PIC on Thursday. PIC Chief Executive Prof Dr Bilal Zakaria, Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Javed and other senior doctors were also present for the meeting.
Prof Zakaria said the number of operation theatres have been increased from five to nine. He added that doctors, nurses and other staff are providing health facilities to the patients round the clock, but due to the rapid increase in cardiac diseases, the number of patients has also increased. Prof Zakaria said in comparison to the workload, the resources and doctors available are insufficient. He proposed that the Multan Institute of Cardiology, the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology and the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology be earmarked as partner hospitals, to enable patients from nearby districts to be treated at these institutes instead of having to come to the PIC.
