RAWALPINDI: Punjab caretaker Health Minister Dr Javed Akram on Tuesday announced establishment of two more cardiology hospitals in the garrison city under the supervision of Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC).

Two hospitals -- RIC-2 and RIC-3-- will be established on Peshawar Road and Rawat to provide all the facilities to the cardiac patients where angioplasty and angiography will also be done, he said.

He was visiting RIC along with Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Dr Jamal Nasir. Health minister Javed Akram said Basic aim of the establishment of the two more hospitals was to reduce patients load on main RIC.

However, two hospitals will refer critical patients to main organisation for further treatment, he said.

He said the plan to establish a modern pharmacy in RIC was very important and its implementation would be ensured.

He said the establishment of RIC-2 and RIC-3 projects in Rawalpindi would augment the medical facilities for heart disease in the area.

Caretaker Provincial Health Minister Dr Javed Akram and Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Dr Jamal Nasir also visited Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) where its

Vice Chancellor Dr Mohammad Umar and RIC Executive Director Dr Anjum Jalal gave separate briefings about Rawalpindi Medical University and Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology.

Speaking on the occasion, Caretaker Health Minister Punjab Dr Javed Akram said that RIC had a place in the country and every Pakistani is proud of the hospital.

He said that the caretaker government of Punjab is keen to improve the health sector and all necessary steps are being taken in this regard. He said that the facility of 24 hours angiography and angioplasty should be ensured in RIC and the interim government is also trying to provide this facility in other cardiology hospitals of Punjab.

Punjab caretaker Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Dr Jamal Nasir said he studied from Rawalpindi Medical University and now he considered it his duty to use his full energies for the improvement in this institution.

He said that Dr Mohammad Umar is serving this institution in the true sense and he as a minister will make every effort to establish RMU Dental College, improve transport service and increase the number of hostels.

During visit to RIC, Dr Jamal Nasir said that in RIC, angiography or angioplasty is done in 15 minutes and more than 2,700 patients visit the OPD every day. He said not only the citizens of Rawalpindi and Islamabad but also the citizens of Gilgit-Baltistan, KPK and Azad Kashmir benefit from RIC.

The caretaker provincial ministers Dr. Javed Akram and Dr. Jamal Nasir visited the emergency department and other parts of RIC and interacted with patients.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2023