The construction of new block of Leprosy Hospital Manghopir run by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has been completed while the number of beds were increased by 250 in the hospital.
However, KMC could not give the status of Institute of Infectious Diseases to Leprosy Hospital Manghopir despite passage of several years.
A senior official of KMC on condition of anonymity said that Leprosy Hospital Manghopir was sole and first hospital of its kind where best facilities were available for diagnosis and treatment of leprosy, hepatitis, tuberculosis, eye and skin diseases.
He said construction of new block had been completed in hospital with annual funds and now beds capacity had been increased from 200 to 250 in the hospital.
He said earlier KMC announced that Leprosy Hospital would be given the Institute of Infectious Diseases status but the decision could not be taken yet despite passage of several years. The KMC administrator could not pass council resolution for re-organisation of Leprosy Hospital yet.
Medical Superintendent, Leprosy Hospital Manghopir, Dr Muhammad Ali Abbasi, when contacted, said that around 5,000 leprosy patients had been registered in center out of which 180 were under treatment in hospital. He said hospital offers services of TB, leprosy, hepatitis, eye, immunizations and other diseases.
He said the administration would able to cater to all infectious diseases in future with the up-gradation Leprosy Hospital by giving Institute of Infectious Diseases status in future. He said administration would also be able to cater to 1000 OPD patients in future.