14 hospitals to be constructed in first phase of PM’s health programme

Islamabad

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s ambitious health programme for construction of 46 hospitals across Pakistan will be implemented in three phases and in first phase 14 hospitals will be constructed in different parts of the country with financing of the federal government.

According to official working paper of PC-II for preparing feasibility, design and other services, a copy of which is available with The News, out of 46 hospitals announced by the PM, 14 will be completed in Phase-I and the remaining 32 hospitals will be completed in phase-II and III. Total cost required for consultancy services has been estimated at Rs6 billion for all three phases.

With zero allocation in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in financial year 2016-17, the government intends to complete this project within next 48 months period. It indicates that only first phase will be under implementation till 2018 by end of the tenure of PML-N-led regime.

The federal government, keeping in view the emerging healthcare demands throughout the country, has established Health Infrastructure Development and Management Company (HIDMC) to supplement and augment the existing healthcare facilities in the country by establishing 46 new and modern hospitals across Pakistan. These hospitals will have capacity of 500, 250 and 100 beds.

Out of 46 hospitals, three will be constructed in Islamabad, 12 in Punjab, six in Sindh, seven in KP, eight in Balochistan, five in AJK, four in Gilgit-Baltistan and one in Fata.

Currently, the public healthcare system comprises 1,167 hospitals, 5,695 dispensaries, 5,404 basic health units, 675 rural health centres, 733 mother and child health centres and allied medical professionals i.e. doctors, nurses, midwives and pharmacists.

As of FY 2016, there are 184,711 doctors, 16,652 dentists and availability of 119,000 hospital beds in the country. The ratio of one doctor per 1,038 persons, one hospital bed for 1,613 persons and one dentist for 11,513 persons shows clear inadequacies particularly in case of dentists and hospital beds. In order to implement the programme, HIDMC will hire services of a consultant firm that will provide services on the master planning, medical equipment planning and resident construction supervision services.

In phase one, two 500-bed hospitals will be constructed in Islamabad, one 500-bed hospital in Sukkur, one in Thatta, one in Quetta, 250-bed hospital in Khuzdar, 500-bed hospital in Chakwal, 250-bed in Kot Addu, 500-bed in Jhang, 250-bed in Chitral, 500-bed in Kohat, 250-bed in Gilgit, 100-bed in Kotli (AJK) and 500-bed Children Hospital in Rawalpindi.

The hired consultant will prepare modular designs for 500, 250 and 100-bed hospitals for each type which will be adaptable at other site. According to technical appraisal carried out by the Planning Commission, the project was discussed at Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting on 07-02-2017, whereby it was decided that sponsor should first resolve the issues of financing. After consultation, it was decided that the modified PC-II submitted by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination at a total cost of Rs1317.752 million without foreign exchange component (FEC) would be placed before the CDWP in its forthcoming meeting. The programme will contribute towards reducing patient to bed ratio from 1,600:1 to 1,400:1.

Article source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/191760-14-hospitals-to-be-constructed-in-first-phase-of-PMs-health-programme