KARACHI, Aug 25: The National Institute of Child Health (NICH), with a turn over of 18,000 to 20,000 child patients admitted each year, started with its computerized record keeping setup here on Monday.

The setup maintains adequate information with regard to diagnosis made of the patients at the time of admission and consequent medical intervention provided at the hospital. The initiative is expected to efficiently streamline the medical support to the patient required at any later stage.

Programme coordinator Dr Jamal Raza, mentioning the setup to be the first of its kind in any public sector hospital, said that this could be materialized with the support of software companies operating in the private sector.

Highlighting the significance of the system, expected to be further expanded for record keeping of out patient department (OPD) in future, he said that the updated record compilation would also contribute in adequate policy formulation with regard to health conditions of the local children.

According to him, all departments of the NICH have been inter-connected through the computerized system.—APP