LAHORE, Oct 12: Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) has launched a scheme to provide free of cost medicines to the indoor patients at its Irfan Block, Jillani Block, cardiac surgery and general wards, including emergency.

PIC Medical Superintendent Dr Riaz Ahmad Chaudhry said in a press release issued here on Sunday that outdoor patients had already been provided free medicines for a period of one month by the hospital management, adding that daily 1,500 patients visited PIC for cardio vascular treatment.

In order to accommodate an increasing number of OPD patients, a new building was being constructed at the PIC at a cost of Rs160 million and its basement and three floors had been completed, the release said.

It said the PIC would be made a model institute for treatment of the cardio vascular disease and for extending state of the art medical facilities to the patients, the institute was being provided all possible assistance by the government.

It said the doctors, nurses and paramedics of Multan and Faisalabad institutes of cardiology were also provided specialised training at the PIC.

The institute is the first public sector hospital which has got ISO-9001-2000 certification for its pathology and radiology departments and for quality management.—APP