MURREE: The health problems of people residing in hilly areas will be resolved on a priority basis, said Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid.

The minister was inaugurating a child and mother care centre at the Dr Syed Mohammad Hussain Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Samily, near Murree.

She announced to give the facility the status of a government hospital. Previously, the facility was only for the treatment of TB.

Dr Syed Mohammad Hussain, who was from Sheikhupura and was a close friend and class fellow of Dr Allama Iqbal purchased about 25 acres of land in Samily and established the hospital, bearing the costs himself.

Being a medical doctor himself, he had witnessed the condition of poor locals suffering from TB and with no treatment facility nearby.

He decided to establish the 350-bed hospital in the 1920s. his descendants later handed the hospital over to the government after the creation of Pakistan.

The hospital provides free TB treatment to thousands of patients from many areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the help of donations.

The health minister said the conversion of the hospital will provide maternity healthcare to locals.

MNA Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, MPAs Latasab Satti, Raja Sagheer, Abida Raja and others were also present.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2019