PESHAWAR, Jan 15: NWFP Minister for Health Inayatullah has said 500 hepatitis patients are being provided free treatment under the endowment fund at the Lady Ready Hospital, Peshawar, and the government has procured required doses of vaccine.

He was speaking at a ceremony held to inaugurate a new MRI machine installed under the endowment fund at the Khyber Teaching Hospital on Monday. The machine has cost Rs74 million. Patients availing the facility will be offered concession in rates. Chief Minister Mohammad Akram Khan Durrani was the chief guest on the occasion.

The health minister said that under the endowment fund, establishment of pharmacy shops at the Hayatabad Medical Complex and the Khyber Teaching Hospital was in final stages.

He said the pharmacy shops would start functioning in one month. He said establishment of a standard diagnostic laboratory under the fund was also under consideration.

He said the government had provided Rs230 million for the purpose and Rs100 million was in pipeline.

He requested the chief minister to direct immediate release of the Rs100 million fund. He also demanded funds for renovation of the Khyber Teaching Hospital.

The chief executive of the KTH, Dr Changez Hakim Khan, and the project director, endowment fund, Prof Inayat Roghani, also spoke on the occasion.—PPI