PESHAWAR, Oct 28: The NWFP Minister for Information Technology and Science and Technology Hussain, Mr Ahmed Kanju, has said that the new building of Saidu Medical College and Saidu Teaching Hospital would be constructed in phases with a cost of Rs700 million.

He said with the completion of the said project, the people of the area would avail better health facilities at their door-steps.

This he said while presiding over a meeting at the Saidu Medical College on Tuesday.

Chief Executive of Saidu Group of Hospitals and Principal of Saidu Medical College, Dr Pir Mohammad Khan, Prof Dr Javed Zaman, Prof Dr.Aziz Khan and a large number of doctors and students were also present on the occasion.

The minister said that the present government was giving top priority to improve health care system especially in the far-flung areas of the province.

He said that allout efforts were being made to provide free health facilities to poor patients and emergency services to all people in hospitals throughout the province.

He held out an assurance that the problem of shortage of staff in the SMC would be resolved shortly and fund of Rs11.3 million would be provided for the provision of latest medical equipment, library and others necessary facilities.

He said Inshallah the college would also be recognized by the PMDC during the next month as most of the requirements for the recognition had already been fulfilled.

The Principal of the Saidu Medical College, Prof Pir Mohammad Khan, apprised the minister of problems being faced by the staff and students of the college.

The minister assured him that these problems and demands would be solved on priority basis.—APP