SAHIWAL: The provincial government has allocated Rs3.58 billion development funds for upgrading the District Headquarters Hospital to a teaching hospital.

It will be the first teaching hospital between Multan and Lahore which will facilitate 10 million population of the Sahiwal division and surrounding areas.

Punjab Minister for Zakat and Ushr Malik Nadeem Kamran told reporters the hospital upgradation package would be announced during an upcoming coal power plant groundbreaking ceremony.

He said the hospital would be equipped with modern machinery while neuro, medical, surgical, paediatric and cardiology wards would be upgraded. Besides, more specialist doctors would be hired.

Classes at the newly-established Sahiwal Medical College had been started on the premises of DHQ Hospital in 2010 because of a delay in the construction of its building.

Since the SMC building is at the final stage of construction, around 400 MBBS students will be shifted to the new building during the last quarter of the current year.

It is in this background, the Punjab government wants to upgrade and convert DHQ Hospital into a teaching hospital.

Now the students can complete their house job in Sahiwal after passing the final fifth year examination. This has been the pressing demands from parents and students for the completion of house job in Sahiwal.

Earlier, the medical students had to move Faisalabad, Lahore or Multan for the completion of their house job.

SMC Admin Officer Dr Hasam confirmed to Dawn that the management had started work on upgradation of 14 existing wards after the provision of funds.

Director Development Habib Jilani Venis also confirmed that funds had been allocated.

The 465-bed DHQ Hospital is spread over an area of 41.5 acres having 14 wards and around 100 doctors.

DHQ Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Rahmat Ali said the funds had been allocated, but 89 sanctioned posts (44 doctors and 45 paramedical, clerical staff) were still lying vacant.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2014