HYDERABAD, Jan 31: Sindh Health Minister Ahsan Ahmed has dispelled the impression that the Qasimabad government hospital is being privatized.

He was inaugurating the Eye Ward, Eye Operation Theatre and Eye OPD at the Qasimabad hospital here on Thursday.

He also spoke at the concluding function of the three-day free eye camp at the hospital.

The minister said many NGOs were vying to take over the possession of hospital but the government had refused to privatize the hospital.

He appreciated the holding the free eye camp in the hospital for the poor patients.

He thanked the Prevention and Control of the Blindness Cell, Karachi Civil Hospital, for providing medical equipment for the eye unit of the Qasimabad hospital.

Mr Ahmed disclosed that the government had released Rs4 million for the treatment of Leishmaniasis patients in Johi, Dadu district, and added that teams of doctors and paramedics had also been sent to Johi. A multinational company, BHP, had also donated 1000 injections and Rs50,000 for the patients. He said that 2600 patients had been registered and the disease was now on the decline.

Speaking on the occasion, the director general, health services, Sindh, Dr Fateh Mohammad Khan, said that during the three-day eye camp, 371 patients had been examined and 100 eye operations had been performed.

Dr Ziauddin, eye specialist, announced the donation of slit lamp, operating microscope and other equipment for the eye unit of the Qasimabad hospital. The organizer of camp, Indus Lions Club, Shakir Memon, donated a full box of intra ocular lens.

The minister announced a donation of Rs25,000 for the hospital and said that the deputation of those doctors who were working in the hospital would not be cancelled.