KARACHI, Aug 11: The Civil Hospital Karachi became the first public sector health facility in the province to have the Laser Photocoagulation Service facility when the facility was inaugurated at its Ophthalmology Department by provincial Health Minister Shabbir Ahmed Qaimkhani on Thursday.

Talking to newsmen after the inauguration ceremony, the minister said that with the help of this technology, eye patients would be able to avail modern facilities.

He noted improvement in the working of and services at public sector hospitals, and pledged that more steps would be taken to bring about further improvement. He described health facilities as people’s basic right and government’s responsibility. “We will ensure provision of medicines and availability of staff at all government hospitals in the province,” he said.

The minister pointed out that legal action against those indulged in the sale of unsafe blood had been initiated with raids being conducted on suspected blood banks. Action would also be taken against quacks, he declared.

Regarding the delay in granting promotion to deserving doctors, he said he was just taking briefings from the officials concerned, and held out the assurance that everyone would be getting his due right. About paramedical service structure, he said the matter was under consideration of the finance department and the issue would be resolved soon.

On the occasion, he announced that the civil hospital would also be provided a B.Scan Ultrasound machine and a new Phaco machine.—PPI