PESHAWAR, April 23: In the wake of the decision by many consultants to join the Institutional-Based Practice (IBP) at Khyber Teaching Hospital, two wards and five OPDs will soon become operational in the new building, KTH chief executive told Dawn on Tuesday.

“We will soon be launching renovation work at the vast building vacated by the Pakistan Institute of Prosthetic and Orthodontic Sciences Department to start nephrology and oncology units at the first floor,” said Dr Mohammad Zahir Shah, the CE.

According to him, five more OPDs will be made functional at the new building to accommodate the consultants for IBP. The new arrangement will cost Rs5.5 million to be met from the self-generated hospital fund.

Another building located near the emergency gate has been rented by the hospital to accommodate the growing number of the consultants, he said, adding that an agreement had been reached with the owner of the building where operation theatre and wards already existed.

“There were problems initially, but we are taking corrective measures where needed. And, by the grace of Allah, we have succeeded so far,” the CE said. About 3,200 patients, he pointed out, had been examined in the first month of launching the IBP. With senior consultants joining the IBP, he said, the number of patients shot up tremendously as some 3,780 came to IBP for check-ups till April 22.

Initially, consultants were reluctant to join the IBP but the hard stance adopted by the government forced them to start practice at state-run hospitals in evenings.

There were discrepancies in pathological laboratories and shortage of equipment which has been taken care of. About Rs12 million was allocated by the government to upgrade the infrastructure.

Dr Zahir Shah informed that the Japan government would give a $300,000 grant in a couple of days which, he added, would be spent on upgradation of facilities.

Authorities have appointed over a dozen guides at the IBP premises to facilitate the patients visiting various consultants, another doctor said.