KARACHI, June 15: The Sindh government has allocated Rs1,400 million for 19 new and 61 ongoing health schemes under the Public Sector Development Programme in the next financial year (2007-08).

The new schemes likely to be initiated in the new financial year include establishment of a bone marrow transplantation unit at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation. The total cost of the project is Rs500 million of which the government will release Rs83 million in the new fiscal year.

Besides, Rs46 million has been allocated for up-gradation of radiology department and medical and surgical units, construction of general canteen at the Civil Hospital Karachi and construction of an OPD Block at Lyari General Hospital.

Under the ongoing schemes, the government has allocated Rs50 million for the establishment of cardiac surgery, paediatric cardiology and other services at the Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases. The total cost of the project, as estimated by the government, is Rs399.679 million.

According to the budget documents, funds have also been allocated for fresh initiatives like improvement of Liaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro; construction of 40-bed wards for the ophthalmology department of Chandka Medical Hospital, Larkana; construction of an accident and emergency centre at DHQ hospitals; incinerator for the Institute of Chest Disease, Kotri; establishment of a cardiac emergency centre in Landhi, Karachi; and for the construction of a trauma centre on the Indus Highway at Amri, Jamshoro.

In the medical education sector, the government has planned establishment of a library as well as purchase of equipment and furniture for second and third professional departments at the Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College, Sukkur.

The ongoing projects, which will continue to get funds in the new fiscal year, include establishment of a cardiology department at Lyari General Hospital, Karachi; renovation of the emergency department, ENT wards and CCU department at the CHK; expansion of Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana; an extension project of Behbhani Hospital, Saudabad, Karachi; improvement of the Institute of Skin Diseases Hospital, Karachi; upgrade of Taluka Hospital, Gambat, to the level of an institute; and repair and renovation of primary health care facilities in nine districts.

Since no funds were previously provided for the establishment of a vaccine laboratory for anti-snake venom/ rabies at Tharparkar, the financial managers of the provincial government have made an allocation of Rs20 million for the project this year. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs200 million.

The budget documents also indicate that no substantial progress was made regarding the establishment of a general nursing and midwifery training school at Liaquatabad Government Hospital in Karachi.

Under the preventive programme, no new scheme has been introduced. However, a sum of Rs164.864 million has been allocated in the budget for the nine ongoing projects under the preventive programme of the health department.