KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that he is keen to make the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) a world-class institute by providing it with all the facilities including an upgraded and extended building.
He said this while presiding over a meeting held regarding the up-gradation of the NICH at the Chief Minister House, a statement said on Thursday.
The NICH is one of the best institutes, but it has to improve further by taking some administrative and professional measures such as the appointment of specialists, creation of an administrative cadre and the construction of an additional block, he said.
The chief minister approved 20 million rupees for the purchase of a 1500kv generator and other equipment needed urgently. He said that the institute can also make a separate request for other funds and facilities if needed.
The institute has a 500-bed hospital and provides healthcare facilities to the patients of Sindh and Balochistan.
While giving a presentation to the chief minister, Director Professor Jamal Raza said that during 2016, about 126,184 patients were treated at NICH. He added that in primary health care provision, the institute includes an immunisation clinic, and family planning as well as a baby clinic.
General OP has a TB clinic, asthma clinic, epilepsy clinic, a specialised clinic, a pediatric nephrology clinic, pediatric endocrine clinic, pediatric diabetic clinic, pediatric dermatology clinic and a pediatric hematology and oncology clinic.
He further said that the lab tests of 429,111 patients were also conducted during 2016. There is a blood bank emergency department where 184,009 patients were treated, while the Oncology Unit was established in 1999, he added.
Raza said that on the directives of the chief minister, the institute is also going to establish a new Pediatric Surgical complex over an area of two acres. In the complex surgical block, a rehabilitation centre, hematology, bone marrow transplantation and molecular genetics and research departments will also be established.
The director requested the chief minister to allow health allowance to NICH staff as is being given to that of JPMC. The chief minister directed him to send the proposal and he would approve it.
He also took up the case of promotions from grade B-1 to B-17 and fresh appointments of lower grade employees. The chief minister directed him to promote the employees whose promotions are due, but purely on merit.
Chief Minister Shah also allowed the creation of administrative positions to run the institute purely on a professional basis. He allowed the recruitment of sanitary staff and said that he would provide an extra budget for the construction of new blocks and the face uplifting of the hospital.
