KARACHI, Aug 25: The advisor to chief minister on health has taken strong notice of the out-of-order X-ray unit at the Sindh Government Hospital, Korangi for the last one month , which has been causing great difficulty to many patients visiting the facility.

The advisor who made a surprise visit to the hospital on Wednesday was told by patients that the machine brokedown frequently and was not working to its optimum for the last several months. While, it had been completely shut down since a month.

According to these patients, they were compelled to pay Rs150 to Rs200 for the facility at privately run units, compared to a token of Rs35 at the Korangi Government Hospital.

Faisal Malik, taking urgent note of the complaint, directed the medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr Nizamuddin Memon, to either submit a proposal for urgent replacement of the unit or ensure proper assessment of the actual nature of fault and get it rectified.

He also took a detailed round of the hospital's chest clinic and appreciated its chest physician for initiating a computerized compilation of the record of patients covered under DOTS programme.

The advisor stressed the need for early inception of a full fledged chest unit, with provision for an upgraded post of chest specialist at the Hospital. He registered his concern over the slow pace of construction work of the three-storeyed building at the hospital.

The under completion building was planned to house varied updated and well-equipped units including that of chest diseases, neurology, orthopaedic, cardiac care unit and an intensive care unit.

He observed that the large number of patients from sub-urban parts of the city at the hospital made it necessary that the under construction structure be completed without any unnecessary delay.

While, kidney patients complained to the advisor about the inadequate number of technicians to administer dialysis machines. Faisal Malik assured that a minimum of three technicians would be trained and deputed at the department of the Korangi Government Hospital. - APP