RAWALPINDI, Oct 18: Punjab Health Minister Tahir Ali Javed said the provincial government had sent 150 doctors, 125 nurses and 32 vaccinators to the quake-affected areas of Azad Kashmir.

He was speaking at a press conference held at Holy Family Hospital here on Tuesday.

The minister said the Punjab government had placed the services of 200 doctors and paramedical staff at the disposal of the federal government so that they could be sent to affected areas.

He said Rawalpindi Medical College’s allied hospitals had so far received 3,190 patients of which 1,967 had been discharged. Now 1,203 are under treatment, whereas so far 20 patients had died. Similarly, 102 patients underwent amputation, he added.

The provincial government has arranged 5,000 beds for the treatment of patients in various hospitals of Lahore with a view to reduce the burden on Rawalpindi hospitals, the minister said. All the hospitals of Punjab are on red alert to receive the patients if needed, he added.

He said the Punjab government would also help rebuild the health infrastructure in Azad Kashmir.

On the occasion, Chief Executive Rawalpindi Medical College and allied hospitals Dr Mussaddaq Khan said four patients had died of tetanus. He said new patients with infections were coming, adding that orthopaedic surgeons were available to treat the complicated cases. He said sufficient blood was available for the patients.

Rawalpindi District Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas said the Punjab government had given Rs100,000 each to the relatives of 17 persons killed in Rawalpindi district in earthquake.—A Reporter