The provincial government approved a Rs. 1.1 billion grant to enable The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) to expand and improve the faculty and run its day to day affairs effectively. This approval was given in an announcement in the Chief Minister house by the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah while chairing a NICVD board meeting.
Dr. Qamar while giving a presentation to the Chief Minister in the NICVD board meeting said that the hospital was established with 300 beds in 1960 and currently hold 650 beds. He said that the changes in the hospital such as more doctors and staff are the need of time. This would require around Rs. 14.6 million monthly.
The hospital demanded to increase its 3 medical wards to at least 6 medical wards and an increase in one more surgical ward, with each ward having 100 beds. It also demanded a separate Vascular Surgery Department.
The Chief Minister with the consent of the board approved the hiring of the proposals. He also approved another proposal from the hospital regarding an increase in the salaries of postgraduates, which would require around Rs. 13 million per month.
In the meeting it was decided that services of 115 workers who had been working on contract basis should be regularize whereas specialists should be appointed. A contract with Medtronic (An American Company which wants to rebuild NICVD’s ICU, OT and refurbish its catheterization laboratory) for rehabilitation of the hospital was also approved in the meeting.
The board also decided to prepare a master plan for next 50 years as well as an internal audit of NICVD by an independent auditor.
Other members in the meeting included Deputy Speaker Sindh Assembly Syeda Shehla Raza, NICVD Executive Director Dr Nadeem Qamar, principal secretary to the CM Alamudin Bullo, secretary health Mr Mangnejo, secretary finance Sohail Rajput, executive director of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Dr Anisuddin Bhatti and Sohrab Sarki, a member of the provincial assembly.