KARACHI, Jan 21: The 2000-bed Civil Hospital Karachi will, at last, see some changes in respect of its infrastructure facilities. For the first time in more than 50 years, when a 6-inch diameter sewerage line was laid for the then 200-bed hospital, the Sindh Government on Tuesday decided to replace its sewerage lines and refurbish its washrooms at a cost of Rs20 million.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at Civil Hospital. Besides the hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Prof Dr Noshad Shaikh, the meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Finance, Fazlur Rehman, Secretary Communication and Works, Masoodur Rehman Masood, Additional Secretary Health, Nargis Ghalloo, and other concerned officials.

In addition to two ADP schemes on refurbishment of the sewerage system and washrooms, a non-ADP scheme for construction of internal roads and facelift, costing Rs10 million, will also be undertaken.

All the schemes, it was decided, will be carried out through expert contractors who would work under the supervision of a private consultant to be hired for the purpose. The projects will be completed in six months.

Talking to APP after the meeting, Prof Shaikh said that some 42 schemes had been executed to meet the pressing needs of the hospital during the last two years under the concept of private-public partnership at a total cost of Rs162 million, raised through donations.

Dr Noshad revealed that a modern burns centre, constructed at a cost of Rs50 million, will be inaugurated in February. Plans were afoot for the expansion of the existing 36-bed Emergency Unit to a 72-bed entity, with expansion in the Trauma Section, and having the facilities of laboratory and ultra-sound.

Similarly, the existing OPDs and operation theatre complex were being upgraded for which commitments worth Rs20 million had been obtained from various philanthropists and philanthropic organizations.

The Civil Hospital’s MS said that for the first time, the hospital will be having a “Cardiology Emergency” on which work will start within a month, also with philanthropic cooperation. —APP