03 November 2004	Wednesday	19 Ramazan 1425

PESHAWAR, Nov 2: A health services centre has been launched in the city to provide services of specialist doctors, consultants and medical facilities to people who get insured.

Briefing newsmen here at the press club on Monday, the managing director of the Town Health Insured Services (THIS), Dr Jalil Afridi, and medical consultant Dr Amjad Taqveem said that though the idea of health insured services was new in the town, but it had assumed significance at the world level.

"It is highly feasible in our society as majority of the population lived in an unhygienic environment which lack medical facilities. High fees charged by private clinics also distract people from going to specialist doctors," said Dr Afridi.

They said that in the prevailing circumstances, people should evolve a system for health services that would be possible and affordable.

The centre's package consists of four grades- A, B, C, and D, but initially the centre is going to offer grade A and B services. Grade A is meant for OPD patients while that of B is for patients needing maternity care and hospitalisation.

The grade A includes routine medical check-ups frequently needed by patients. After these check-ups, patients can be referred to consultants (specialist) under the same roof for expert opinion in need. Similarly, all routine investigations, including those of blood, urine, stool, ECG, ultrasound and X-rays will be provided to the patients in category A.

Members could also buy prescribed medicines from THIS pharmacy on 15 to 25 per cent discounted rates.

In reply to a question, Dr Jalil said people from other cities could register with the centre, but the local people would get more facilities as compared to the non-locals. If succeeded, facilities would be extended to other parts of the province.