KARACHI, Feb 25: The Sindh Government Qatar Hospital will remain under the control of the provincial government for now, according to a notification issued by the chief minister's office on Wednesday.

For the last eight-and-a-half months a cloud of confusion has been hovering over the hospital regarding its ownership. Some people had said the hospital would be devolved to the city level. Others thought it would remain under the control of the provincial government.

In the last eight months the health unit, situated in Orangi, got only Rs50,000 for medicines. No other amount was given to it, Dr Jamaluddin Sheikh, who is the hospital's deputy medical superintendent, told Dawn on Wednesday. "The main reason for this was the confusion about its future status," he said.

Meanwhile, the hospital is being expanded as 100 beds will be added to it. A ceremony in this regard was held on Sunday at which the foundation stone of several wards was laid by Shoaib Bukhari, provincial Planning and Development Minister, and Noman Saigal, adviser to the chief minister for Health.

The expansion work would cost about Rs200 million, said Dr Sheikh. The scheme was initiated by Mr Bukhari. The project envisages the construction of orthopaedic, cardiac and kidney wards, besides general and consultant OPDs, a nursing school and hostel, an auditorium and an administration block.

With the availability of these facilities, the poor people of Orangi Town would not be required to rush to the Civil hospital, National Institute of Cardio-Vascular Diseases or Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in case of emergency.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bukhari said the project would never face shortage of funds and hoped that the officers concerned would perform their duties honestly. He would examine the possibility of the construction of a road from Qasba Colony to North Nazimabad, he added.

Mr Saigal observed that with the addition of the cardiac, orthopaedic and kidney wards, the hospital would match the civil hospital and the JPMC in terms of facilities on offer.

He directed the project officers and hospital staff to perform their duties honestly and devotedly. He said corruption and carelessness would not be tolerated.

The expansion work would be completed by the February of 2007, he added. The medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr (Capt) Zafar Iqbal, and Dr Jamaluddin Sheikh also spoke.