The Sindh government is likely to earmark at least Rs 10 billion for the development of health sector in the province, particularly the far-flung area, in the forthcoming budget 2011-12, it has been learnt.
The Sindh Health Department has sought Rs 11.313 billion for improving health facilities in the province, including the establishment of two new medical colleges in Krachi and Hyderabad, well-placed sources told Pakistan Today. The Health Department has proposed a budget increase of at least 78 percent against the allocation of Rs 4.697 billion for the current fiscal year.
The department also proposed 122 development schemes, including the establishing of two medical colleges and the uplift of health facilities in the existing system as well, the sources added. The Health Department also proposed at least Rs 7.683 billion for around 91 ongoing development schemes and Rs 3.629 billion for 31 new schemes for the forthcoming year 2011-12.
It also proposed Rs 2.249 billion for teaching hospitals, Rs 5.013 billion for other hospitals, Rs 1.234 billion for PSC administration/training, Rs 561.100 million for medical education, Rs 25 million for nutrition, Rs 2.519 billion for prevention programme, Rs 50 million for the chief minister’s directives and Rs 500 million for block allocation.
At least Rs 2.069 billion were also sought for development schemes of health facilities at the town and district levels (Rs 350 million), setting up accident, emergency, trauma centers in Karachi (Rs 50 million), establishment of infectious diseases centre in Karachi (Rs 50 million). Besides, Rs 1.5 billion would also be allocated for the chief minister’s programme – Emergency Plan for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis in Sindh.
Other schemes are the establishment of a 50-bed medical ICU at Karachi and Hyderabad at a cost of Rs 50 million, renovation and rehabilitation of existing residences and construction of mosque at Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases at DUHS for Rs 60 million.
Also proposed are the construction of girls’ hostel for 200 under graduate and post graduate students at Liaqat Medical College Jamshoro at a cost of Rs 50 million, provision of Fibro Optical equipment for treatment of liver patient at Civil Hospital Karachi for Rs 100 million, establishment of a 50-bed medical ICU at Civil Hospital Karachi for Rs 100 million, provision of pet CT machine at Civil Hospital Karachi for Rs 100 million, establishment of department of sero-biological and providing power generation by gas along with heat recovery system at Ojha Campus of DUHS for Rs 100 million, establishment of two medical colleges in Karachi and Hyderabad at a cost of Rs 100 million each, strengthening of hospital waste management system in Sindh at a cost of Rs 100 million, establishment of infectious diseases control department in all teaching hospitals for Rs 100 million, provision of PCR, cell separator, plate-late agitator in five divisional headquarter hospitals at Rs 100 million.
