KARACHI, Dec 22: Work on establishment of a separate teaching hospital for Sindh Medical College students will begin soon with the assistance of government and the college alumni.

Speaking as chief guest at the winter meeting of the SMC Alumni at a hotel, the vice-chancellor of Dow University of Health Science Prof, Masood Hameed Khan, said that the university had already planned to have a separate clinical side training arrangement for SMC students and a project for establishment of a 1000-bed hospital in the vicinity of college was being moved for approval by the relevant authorities.

In addition to its own funds, the university would seek cooperation of the Higher Education Commission, the Sindh government and the alumni of SMC, he added.

Dr Farooq Sattar, a graduate of the SMC and senior parliamentarian, said that the SMC was established after a long struggle, and it was necessary for the SMCians to work with dedication for improvement of the healthcare system in the country.

About SMC hospital, he said there was a possibility that the JPMC should be brought under the Sindh government and be given under the the administrative control of SMC after giving it the status of a university.

Different speakers, representing the alumni associations locally and internationally, particularly at America and Europe, including the secretary of Sindh Health department Dr Naushad Sheikh, Dr Kamal Haider and Dr Nadeem Qazi, highlighted the role of their alma mater.