LAHORE, Aug 27: Shalamar Teaching Hospital will establish a state-of-the-art cardiac centre at a cost of Rs170 million.

A press release issued on Tuesday claimed that it would be the cardiac centre for the people in northern Lahore which would also provide facilities under one roof including angiography, angioplasty, pace maker, cardiac bypass and cardiac and valves replacement surgeries.

It said the step had been taken keeping in view the rapid increase in hypertension and heart diseases.

Though the Shalamar Hospital has already been providing treatment to cardiac patients, treatment for most of the serious types of cardiac diseases and operations could not be carried out here due to non-availability of latest medical equipment and catheterization lab.

A ceremony was organised at the health facility to materialise the scheme. Board of Trustees Chairman of the institute Chaudhry Ahmad Saeed, Chief Executive retired Brig Anis Ahmed, Shahid Husain, and cardiologist Dr Kamran Babar were also present on the occasion.

Shalamar Teaching Hospital Chief Operating Officer Prof Ahmed Wasim Yusuf told the participants that the cardiac centre would be fully functional by February 2014. He said hiring of competent and highly qualified physicians and surgeons for the cardiac centre was under way.

The press release said Shalamar Hospital had been providing quality treatment to inhabitants of northern Lahore since 1978 with more than 15 medical and surgical specialties furnished with hi-tech equipment supervised by the best available medical and paramedical staff.

protest: Young doctors on Tuesday continued their protest at Lahore General Hospital demanding implementation of the service structure.

They observed a two-hour token strike at the hospital and also staged a rally on the premises.

The doctors demanded restoration of the 199 abolished positions of paid house job at public sector health facilities of Punjab and implementation on the service structure in accordance with the agreed draft.

YDA spokesman Dr Khurram Shahzad said the general council meeting of the association scheduled for Wednesday (today) at the LGH would decide about any further agitation.

He said the YDA had circulated instructions to all its members to reach the hospital for a major rally on Ferozepur Road.

Dr Shahzad said the Health Department remained unmoved during the last four days of protests at General Hospital.