PESHAWAR: The first-ever burns and plastic surgery centre of the province has started operations at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.

The long-delayed project finally saw light of the day with hospitalisation and surgeries of patients with burns and trauma injuries.

The construction of the centre was started in 2010 by federal government. It was supposed become operational by 2014 but owing to non-availability of funds, it faced delays until the intervention by former provincial chief secretary Mohammad Azam Khan, whose efforts led to securing of Rs1.70 billion funds from the USAID to complete it.

PM likely to formally inaugurate the facility this month

Early this month, the centre started operations. It is likely to be formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan in the third week of the current month. The state-of-the-art and biggest burns centre in the country has got the services of 15 plastic surgeons, who are providing treatment to patients from the province, neighbouring Afghanistan and other provinces.

Prof Mohammad Tahir, head of the centre, said that they started admitting and operating on the patients but a formal inauguration by the prime minister was awaited. He said that the centre was equipped with latest instruments and highly trained staff to provide services to patients in line with the international standard.

Prof Tahir, who supervised the project from launch to completion, said that the government pledged to provide Rs450 million annually but the centre would need more funds because the treatment of patients was lengthy as well as expensive. The funds provided by the government would also go to the salaries, maintenance and medicines for the patients, he added.

“We appeal to philanthropists and industrialists to form an NGO, on the pattern of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, to ensure financial assistance to our patients on permanent basis. We would treat burns and trauma cases from the industries free of cost,” said Prof Tahir.

The centre, established over 20 kanals at HMC, has also installed telemedicine programme through which plastic surgeons discuss burns and trauma cases with their colleagues in the burn centres in Bannu, Chitral and Timergara where 20-bed units have been established by Germany three years ago.

He said that about 70 per cent of the cases were locally manageable by plastic surgeons but they utilised telemedicine programme to evaluate the condition of patients and suggest them further treatment.

“In Afghanistan, we also keep in touch with doctors in two German-funded centre wards via internet to give guidance for better management of cases,” said Prof Tahir.

However, he said that the centre was receiving patients from Lady Reading Hospital and Khyber Teaching Hospital despite the presence of four plastic surgeons and 30 beds at each of the hospitals. He requested the health department for provision of equipment to both the hospitals so they could stop referring patients to the centre.

“Similarly, Swat, Mardan, Nowshera, Dera Ismail Khan and Abbottabad have services of qualified plastic surgeons but patients still visit HMC. Provision of equipment and facilities can strengthen burns treatment there,” said Prof Tahir.

He said that the centre would also work as a facility for medical education for the entire province and Afghanistan.

He said that presently, there were 15 plastic surgeons, who were undergoing training. He said that nurses and paramedics from other hospitals would also be imparted training in management of burns and trauma patients.

“We have six major, two minor operation theatres besides 14-bed intensive care unit for seriously-ill patients and 50 beds for fresh patients at the centrally air-conditioned centre,” he said.

Prof Tahir said that patients requiring reconstructive surgeries for the deformities and contractors would also get free services. Additionally, the centre was also equipped with services for cosmetic surgeries, he added.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2018