RAWALPINDI: The district administration has decided to complete renovation worth Rs280 million at Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) by March 10.

The upgradation and renovation of Benazir Bhutto Hospital’s outdoor patients department (OPD) and psychology department started during the tenure of the interim government. Though the deadline was fixed for January 31, it took another month and now the district administration has decided to complete work by March 10.

The upgradation and renovation work of the 116-bed emergency department at BBH has already been completed at the cost of Rs55 million. The project for the upgradation of the first floor of the hospital’s OPD and the ground floor of the psychology department, which will cost Rs280 million, is currently underway.

BBH Medical Superintendent Dr Tahir Rizvi said the condition of the first floor and ground floor of the outdoor-patient department and the psychology department of the hospital had become dilapidated, and after the upgradation and renovation of these two departments, they would be able to provide better healthcare facilities to the patients.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Aamer Khattak visited the hospital and inspected the development work.

He said any kind of negligence in providing medical facilities would not be tolerated.

“Medical facilities will be ensured in light of the directions of the Punjab government,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, BBH Medical Superintendent Dr Tahir Rizvi and other officials were also present on this occasion.

Mr Khattak visited various departments of the hospital, including the blood bank, triage room, emergency room, OPD, surgical ward, male and female wards, children’s ward and medicine room. He made a detailed review of the health facilities in different departments of the hospital, inquired about the progress of development work and asked the administration to complete it before March 10.

He said the Punjab government had paid attention to providing quality health facilities to the people and that the medical department was serving people. “People from far and wide come to BBH for treatment. No delay will be tolerated in renovation work,” he said.

The commissioner also directed the hospital administration to further improve the sanitation situation.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2024