KARACHI: March 20: The Sindh government has earmarked a sum of Rs13.2 million for procurement of latest machinery and setting up of a new laboratory at the Institute of Skin Disease Sindh commonly known as “chamra (skin) hospital” at Regal Chowk.

The 50-bed hospital, the only skin hospital in the province in public sector, currently presents the picture of total neglect as it lacks various basic necessities including basic medical therapy. Over 4,000 OPD patients visit the hospital daily.

ISDS Director Srichand Ochani said that the provincial government was taking interest in improving the condition and had allocated the respective funds for procurement of latest machinery and setting up of a new lab, besides renovation of the hospital building.    

Construction work of the new laboratory and renovation of the building had started at a cost of Rs7.1 million, he said. Tenders had also been called for purchase of the proposed machinery, he said, adding that a sum of Rs6.6 million had been earmarked for the same.

The Sindh government has released the funds, under Annual Development Programme, which will be utilised for procurement of modern machinery including haematology analyser, blood chemistry analyser, cell analyser, latest skin therapy machine, electrolysis machines and other equipment.

A hospital official said that the medical therapy through these machines was conducted in private hospitals at a high cost while this facility would be available soon at ‘chamra hospial’ at much cheaper rate.

He said that a proposal for setting up of allergy diagnostic centre and the cosmotolgy centre had been sent to the Sindh planning and development department for final approval.

He said that setting up of cosmotology clinic and procurement of laser machine were also necessary as it would provide medical treatment to the patients particularly women suffering from ugly marks and hair on their faces.

  The Sindh government also planned to introduce the teaching cadre at the hospital for which the sum of new expenditure was being reviewed, the official maintained.—Online