MULTAN, Nov 11: The project of Multan Institute of Cardiology (MIC) is in the doldrums as the piece of land allocated for it is in possession of ‘illegal’ occupants.

The need to establish the institute in the district was felt keeping in view the rising number of patients.

Around 15 per cent of the patients admitted to the Nishtar Hospital are suffering from heart ailment. Since the hospital does not cater to the need of heart patients, they are compelled to go to either Karachi or Lahore for proper treatment where they have to go through another ordeal of waiting for days for their appointment. Hence, the poor patients have to fight on more than one front.

Having acknowledged the need for cardiology institute in Multan, a resolution was passed in the Punjab Assembly in 1996, asking the then government to set up an institute for the people of the south Punjab.

The Islamic Development Bank sanctioned a grant for the proposed MIC but the amount was spent on the cardiology ward in the Mayo Hospital, Lahore.

Meanwhile, a committee constituted by former Punjab governor Muhammad Safdar sent a feasibility report regarding the project.

In July 2000, the governor approved PC-1 of the project and granted Rs650 million for the construction of the 40-bed unit. In the proposed MIC, it was envisaged to provide secondary and tertiary care facilities. Likewise, provision of Radiology, Thallium scan and Angiography was also taken into consideration. Surgical components would be available for Angioplasty and by-pass facility, it was decided.

However, the worst to see was the fact that the tract for the construction of the hospital was occupied by some people.

During 1962 to 1968, a 57-kanal tract adjacent to the hospital was purchased by the Nishtar Hospital in different phases for establishing a girls hostel and the staff colony. Of the purchased land, 47 kanal was allocated for the proposed MIC.

Meanwhile, some people got houses constructed on the land and declared it a kutchi abadi. They also managed to get power connections and got constructed roads in the occupied area without seeking consent of the health department.

In Dec 2000, the director, kachi abadis, issued a notification and declared them illegal occupants. He said there would be no objection to their ejection. However, no action has been taken against the accused so far. When the matter was brought into the notice of district Nazim Shah Mahmood Qureshi, he directed the authorities to constitute a committee to probe.

Meanwhile, Nishtar Hospital chief executive Brig Dr Saeed Akhtar (retired) told this correspondent that instead of constituting a committee, efforts should better be directed towards evacuating the land.

Emphasizing the necessity of a cardiology unit in Multan, the chief said communication to Multan was more convenient than any other part of the region. The population of Multan was greater than that of Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan, he added.

He claimed the proposed MIC would benefit around 30 million people since people from Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan were frequent visitors to the Nishtar Hospital.

‘It would be unjust to sacrifice the interest of 30 million people in favour of a handful

of illegal occupants’, he concluded.