KARACHI, July 12: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has said that all government hospitals in the province will be turned into health centres for common patients through establishment of hospital management boards.

Initially, he said, management boards have been established for Karachi and Hyderabad Civil Hospitals and these would be expanded to other hospitals in the province gradually.

He was presiding over a meeting at Governor’s House in which progress made by the managements boards of Karachi and Hyderabad Civil Hospitals was reviewed.

The governor expressed the hope that hospitals would be equipped with modern facilities through these boards and with the coordination of organised and experienced private sector people imbibed with the spirit of service to humanity.

Abu Shamim Ariff and Roshan Zamir, chairmen of boards for Karachi and Hyderabad apprised the meeting about the steps initiated in hospitals, the prevailing conditions and future projects.

The meeting was attended by health minister Shabbir Ahmed Qaimkhani, Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman, Vice Chancellors of Dow and Jamshoro medical universities, acting Principal Secretary Javed Hanif and other officials.

The governor called for immediate steps for cleanliness, peace and better environment.

He directed the concerned authorities to ensure availability of space adjoining the Karachi and Hyderabad hospitals for their new projects and expansion.

On the occasion, it was informed that the planning and development department has sanctioned an additional grant of Rs 200 million for Civil Hospital Karachi while the finance department has sanctioned Rs 50 million which would be spent on development and non-development areas of Civil Hospital and Lyari General Hospital.

Besides funds amounting to Rs 511 million have been allocated under the annual development programme for 30 various projects.

The meeting was told that face-lift of the civil hospital has started while installation of a 500 KV generator is in hand and work is in progress on medical ICU, establishment of a pathological laboratory and improvement of the emergency department.—APP