RAWALPINDI, May 16: The three autonomous hospitals here require Rs228 million to improve their services and gear up for the institution-based practice, which would start shortly.

They have conveyed this estimate to the provincial health department.

The department had asked the principal executive officers of the hospitals to prepare an estimate for the facilities required at the institutions. The amount was being provided to the hospitals as a special grant.

Giving a breakdown of the estimate, sources informed that Holy Family had asked for Rs75 million, Rawalpindi General Hospital for Rs83 million and District Headquarters Hospital for Rs70 million.

The funds are needed for maintenance of building, equipment, provision of new electro-medical equipment, improvement of lavatories and other public utility facilities, improving facilities for staff including their residences, making arrangements for private rooms and procurement of medicines.

Sources said: “The focus had been on buying new equipment, procurement of medicines and making arrangements for private rooms required for the institution based private practice.”

The Holy Family Hospital has received equipment and fixtures worth $15 million under an Islamic Development Bank project.

Hospital sources said funds were required for equipment in gynaecology and paediatric departments, which were not included in the IDB project.

Provincial Health Minister Prof Dr Mehmood Ahmad Chaudhry, talking to this reporter said: “We are trying to revolutionize the services at public hospitals and restore the confidence of the people in these institutions.”

“We want to improve curative, preventive, promotive, rehabilitative and developmental profile of these hospitals in the interest of the patients. This step would benefit the patients who have suffered neglect in the past.”

The administration of different hospitals were generally not sure if the health department would be in a position to provide such a huge amount.

Responding to this uncertainty, he said: “We are fully committed and capable of meeting their demands and have already started providing funds to the hospitals that have submitted their needs.” It is learnt that these hospitals are also keen on repairing out-of-order equipment worth millions of rupees. The equipment has been checked, the required spare parts identified and the lists forwarded to the provincial health department.