KOHAT: The administration of KDA teaching hospital here has sent its case to the provincial finance department for preparation of PC-I for placing the hospital in category ‘A’ and provision of staff and equipment to rid the patients of being referred to Peshawar, according to a senior official.

The sanction to place the hospital in category ‘A’ was given by then governor Barrister Masud Kausar in 2012. The hospital was commissioned in 2000 by then governor, retired Lt-Gen Iftikhar Hussain Shah, as divisional hospital.

Talking to this correspondent, medical superintendent of the hospital Dr Raheem Khattak said on Tuesday that they had prepared the case concerning requirement of 94 doctors, including specialists, and equipment such as CT scan and MRI machines. He said that the case had been submitted to the finance department which would get approval from the chief minister to hire the doctors and also arrange the money for machinery and running expenditure.

Answering a question, he said that the trauma centre would be established under the public-private partnership and efforts were underway since 2013 to find a private company for this purpose. He said that 17 doctors had been appointed in the hospital on emergency basis and the rest 77 would be posted by the secretary health.

He said that the hospital was meant for the whole Kohat division from Kurram Agency to Karak district. He said that the need for category ‘A’ arose during the fight against terrorism when people were referred and many died on way to hospitals in Peshawar.

The people, however, demanded that trauma center whose building was ready should be established on priority because in case of minor head and bullet injuries patients were referred to Peshawar.

PARENTS DAY: Mushtaq Ghani, adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, has lauded the services of Cadet College Kohat in producing competent officers of armed forces and professionals in all other fields.

Addressing the 52nd parents’ day function at the college here on Tuesday, he said that the institution was imparting education to students from all the four provinces and Federally Administered Tribal Areas. He said that they were introducing English as medium of instruction from class-I.

College principal retired Brig Inamul Haq presented the welcome address. Responding to the demands, Mr Ghani announced construction of two new hostels and Rs5 million as grant. He also visited KDA Town where he formally inaugurated a public library.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2017