September 23, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 22, 1429

KARACHI, Sept 22: Sindh Minister for Health Dr Saghir Ahmed said on Monday that 18 new patients with suspected dengue virus were brought to various hospitals in city on Sunday night and Monday.

With the new arrivals, the number of such patients admitted to different hospitals had risen to 50, he said.

Dr Saghir said that a total of 674 patients suspected of being inflicted with dengue virus had been brought to various health care facilities in the Sindh so far this year, adding that 184 of them had tested positive.

The minister said that over the 24 hours from Sunday evening, 18 patients were discharged after necessary treatment.

He said district hospitals across the province had been conveyed not to charge any fee from dengue patients and provide free screening facility and platelets to the needy.

He stated that out of the 18 new cases reported on Sunday night and Monday, 15 were admitted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, one to the Ankle Saria Hospital and two to the Ziauddin Hospital.

Meanwhile, the health minister chaired a meeting in his office on Monday to review the procurement of CT Scan and MRI machines meant for certain teaching hospitals in Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah and Larkana.

The firms interested in supplying the machines gave detailed briefings to the participants of the meeting.

The minister directed the officials concerned to conclude written agreement with the suppliers for the maintenance and availability of parts of the procured machines.

The official technical committee was asked to examine the machines before finalising a deal.

The meeting was attended by Health Secretary Mohammed Hussain Syed, MS of the Civil Hospital Karachi and other officials concerned.—APP