KARACHI, Nov 8: Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has accepted the request made by the administration of the Civil Hospital Karachi for an extraordinary demand of Rs120 million for procurement of medicines and generators, besides some developmental work.

This was stated by CHK’s medical superintendent, Capt M. Raza Ali, on Saturday afternoon. He said that a detailed presentation on the problems being faced by the hospital had been made recently, which was seen by the governor and a majority of cabinet members.

“During the presentation, the governor and cabinet members felt that the grant should be allowed to the CHK,” said Capt Ali. He added that the governor, in principle, had accepted most of the proposals made by the CHK administration.

The medical superintendent said that the biggest problem faced by the hospital involved the procurement of medicines. “Our budget for medicines is okayed in July every year, but the purchases are usually made in December. This means that we have to do without medicines for six months. This system needs to be improved,” he added.

Capt Ali said that the government should allow the CHK to acquire up to 50 per cent of the medicines on its own or the government should start floating the tenders for them in January or February each year so that by July medicines could be purchased.

He claimed that the governor had accepted, in principal, to buy six standby generators of 100KV capacity each for the hospital, for which Rs8.4 million had been allowed.

Dr Ibad also okayed Rs5.4 million for the procurement of three x-ray machines.

On the development side, the governor had approved a plan for the establishment of a central medical ICU, which would cost Rs20 million. The proposed ICU will be equipped with ventilators and other monitoring instruments in addition to 16 fully adjustable beds. The ICU unit will also have professors and assistant professors, who will train various batches of doctors.

The medical superintendent said that the casualty department was also proposed to be upgraded with Rs10 million. Ventilators, x-ray machines and airconditioners were also proposed for this department, he said.

In addition, separate pathways are proposed to be built around the hospital for stretchers and wheelchairs.