PESHAWAR, April 20: Free dialysis and treatment facilities will be provided to needy kidney and cancer patients under the endowment fund.

This was decided at a meeting of the endowment fund committee presided over by NWFP Minister for Health Inayatullah.

The meeting reviewed various services being provided under the fund and decided to invest fund’s assets in income generating activities.

In this respect, 10 private rooms of the Khyber Teaching Hospital would be utilised to generate fund. The committee approved the installation of PCR and CT scan machines at the Saidu Sharif Hospital as well as the construction of commercial plazas at the KTH and Lady Reading Hospital.

The committee was informed that out of Rs250 million released by the government to the fund, Rs137.900 million had been invested in various projects. “The investment fetched a net profit of Rs17.50 million,” the committee was told.

It was informed that under the endowment fund 600 poor hepatitis patients had been provided free treatment at the LRH at a cost of Rs10 million in 10 months.

“The success rate of these patients is 80 per cent,” the meeting was told. The committee has sanctioned an additional amount of Rs5 million to the LRH for the treatment of hepatitis patients. Provision of dialysis and cancer treatment facilities to poor patients was also approved on the occasion. An amount of Rs11 million was granted for the purpose.—APP