LAHORE: Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said oral and maxillofacial surgery departments will be established in all government teaching hospitals in phases.

According to a handout, the adviser said hospitals already having dentistry departments would be preferred.

He said this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of renovation/upgrade of Oral and Maxillofacial Department of Mayo Hospital on Monday.

Afghan Refugees Commissioner Chaudhry Riaz Ahmed, Director General (Health) Dr Zahid Pervaiz, Mayo Oral and Maxillofacial Department head Prof Riaz Warraich, Mayo Medical Superintendent Dr Amjad Shahzad, Dr Nabeela and other doctors of the department attended the ceremony.

Chaudhry Ahmed said the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees had provided Rs30 million for this project. He also said new equipment would be provided to the department besides additional funds by the Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees.

He further said the project would be executed through the Courage Development Foundation, a non-governmental organisation.

However, a committee, headed by the Mayo Hospital medical superintendent, had also been constituted to supervise development work and other activities.

Earlier, Prof Warraich claimed Mayo Hospital was the only institution where oral cancer was treated and maxillofacial surgery conducted.

He said those injured in accidents and bomb blasts were referred to this department. He also claimed patients from across the country and even Afghanistan were brought to the hospital.

Salman Rafique said health was a vast sector and despite all government efforts all needs could not be fulfilled without active cooperation from international development partners and philanthropists. He directed Dr Pervaiz and Prof Warraich to come up with recommendations to start oral and maxillofacial departments in other hospitals.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2015

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