Bokhari for immediate measures to ensure availability of life saving machines

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari has said that Capital hospitals should be well equipped with state of the art equipment and facilities for common people.

Taking serious note of shortage of ventilators in Capital hospitals, he convened a special meeting of PIMS and CADD officials to address this issue of public interest and importance at Parliament House here on Thursday.

The Chairman said "As public representatives we are answerable to our people and its our responsibility to immediately address issues of their interests and concerns".

He said that civil servants should be responsive to people's problems and seeking their solutions must be their priority.

"I want result-oriented approach rather than delaying tactics in this matter of crucial importance where lives of patients are at stake," he added.

The PIMS officials briefed the Chairman Senate about the state of affairs at the Institute and lack of availability of ventilators.

He said that out of 50 ventilators 22 are redundant and they lack funds to purchase more ventilators.

Executive director of PIMS Riaz Ahmed Warraich told the Chairman that PC-I for purchase of 30 ventilators costing Rs 417 million was sent to planning commission but no substantial steps taken in this regard.

He told that a single ventilator machine costs Rs 2.5 million and we need to procure 30 ventilators which can be used over three years period.

He said that in view of importance of ventilators as they are life saving machines he requested Finance Secretary to allow him to utilize amount Rs 10 million in austerity measure head available with PIMS for purchase of 4 ventilators immediately which was granted to him.

The Chairman said that every measure should be adopted to procure ventilators for saving lives of patients in critical conditions.

The Chairman assured that he will direct different quarters to extend support to address the issue of public importance.

He said that donors should be contacted immediately in this regard and asked to convene Rawalpindi and Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry meeting for seeking assistance in the matter.

The Chairman also directed to check availability of money in Senate relief fund for this purpose.

The meeting was also attended by Senators Mushahid Hussain Syed, Osman Saifullah, Mrs. Syeda Iqbal, Mrs. Kalsoom Parveen, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Minister for CADD, Abdul Latif Leghari, Additional Secretary Ministry of CADD, Riaz Ahmed Warraich, Executive Director PIMS, Mr. Javed Akhter, Additional Secretary Planning Commission, Dr. Ghulam Asghar Abbassi Chief Health.