ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat was held on Tuesday, where participants discussed the issues faced by the Federal Government Services Hospital – also known as Polyclinic.

A hospital official explained that the hospital was established as a pioneer services hospital in 1966, called the Central Government Hospital, when it had eight beds for emergencies, surgery, medicine and gynaecology.

“Our objective is to provide free, good quality healthcare to federal government employees. Currently, there are 545 beds dedicated to primary, secondary and tertiary curative care for the federal government employees,” he said.

“Approximately 30,000 patients are admitted to the hospital annually and over 95 per cent of the beds are constantly occupied. Therefore, a new block, spread over 12,000 square feet in Argentina Park, has been proposed,” he added.

During the tenure of the Pakistan Muslim League, it was decided to construct a building on one third of the park land.

However, the project grew controversial when the Ministry of Health realised that the park was named after Argentina, and was maintained and funded by the Argentine Embassy.

After the Foreign Office was contacted, Argentina allowed the construction of the hospital in the park.

The new Minister of the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Barrister Usman Ibrahim, in a briefing held this month, stated that Rs1 billion have been allocated for the hospital’s extension. The minister requested the resolution of the land acquisition issue.

On Tuesday, members of the standing committee were once again informed about the efforts being made to extend the hospital.

MNA Sajid Nawaz, of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), said that the government was not serious about projects for the common people.

“We have proved in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) that health should be given the utmost importance,” he said.

“PTI has been pushing the government to initiate projects for people’s welfare. This is why we have decided to hold the long march on August 14,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2014