PESHAWAR, Dec 13: A number of patients have lost their lives because of lack of a purpose-built burns care unit in the NWFP, it is learnt. There was a 12-bed ward in the Khyber Teaching Hospital for burn patients but it lacked proper treatment facilities, sources said.

The Hayatabad Medical Complex has the only plastic surgery unit in the provincial capital and burn patients visit it, but is unable to admit them because of lack of the specialised facilities required.

“The department of plastic surgery does not accept any burn patient while the Khyber Teaching Hospital has failed to appoint a plastic surgeon for its ward,” the sources said.

They said some beds should be dedicated for burn patients in the Hayatabad Medical Complex.

There are four plastic surgeons in the HMC.

Almost all the patients brought to the hospital with major burn injuries died, a plastic surgeon said.

If a proper burns unit was established in the city, at least 75 per cent of such patients could survive, the sources said.

—Bureau Report