HYDERABAD, Jan 17: Sindh Health Adviser Faisal Malik has denied any role in the allotment of 4,125 square yards land of the Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan by the health department free of cost.

He said that the plot had been given under an order of the Sindh chief minister and a memorandum of understanding between the health department and the CPSP had been signed before he took over as the adviser.

The adviser was talking to journalists at a ceremony held here on Sunday to celebrate the award of an ISO- 9001 certificate to the Aga Khan Maternal and Child Care Centre. He claimed that he did not know that the plot had been given free of cost and added that the CPSP must give 50 per cent concession in fees to students from Sindh.

About cases of polio, he said that 26 cases detected in Sindh were not big figure given the rate of migration from other countries. He said that services of Rangers had been sought to administer polio drops to those entering the province from bordering areas.

Mr Malik added that lack of education was another major hurdle because cases of refusal to get children vaccinated had been reported during the campaigns. Answering a question about mushroom growth of blood banks not meeting health standards, he said that inspection of blood banks had been completed and after Eidul Azha, 142 blood banks, which had failed to meet requirements of health standard, would be closed by the health department.

He categorically said that there was no shortage of medicines in the Civil Hospital Hyderabad or anywhere in Sindh because 75 per cent of medicines had been provided out of medicines purchased by the II depot. Earlier, speaking at the ceremony, he said that the health ministry would extend cooperation to the AKHSP for promotion of health services.