Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister on Health Kh Salman Rafique has said that the under-construction Pakistan Kidney & Liver Transplant Institute (PKLI) in Lahore will be the state-of-the-art institute of international standard which will cost 16 billion rupees.
He said that the first phase of the institute of transplantation of kidney and liver consisting of 200 beds will be completed by August 2017.
He said this while giving a briefing to media men about the construction of Pakistan Kidney & Liver Transplant Institute. Chairman PKLI trust Professor Dr Saeed Akhtar, Member Trust Sh Muhammad Amin and other officers were also present on the occasion.
Kh Salman Rafique said that the work has been started on the kidney and liver transplantation institute being constructed on 50 acre of land on Badian Road which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Punjab on August 14, 2015.
He said that free treatment will be provided to the kidney and liver patients in the hospital and equal facilities will be provided to the poor and rich.
He said that the diseases of kidney and liver are increasing in the country and due to non-availability of the treatment of these diseases, the government is spending billions of rupees on sending the kidney and liver patients for transplantation abroad.
He said that the transplantation of kidney and liver will be carried out in Lahore after establishment of this institute of international standard in Lahore due to which foreign exchange of billions of rupees will be saved.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman PKLI Trust Professor Dr Saeed Akhtar said that besides transplantation of kidney and liver, special attention will be paid to the research of eradicating diseases and a research institute will also be set up. Moreover, a centre will also be set up for the training of medical experts, surgeons and nurses in the institute where high quality education and training will be provided to the kidney and liver doctors of four provinces and nurses of international standard will be prepared.
Dr Saeed Akhtar further said that PKLI Trust will also collect donations from overseas Pakistanis living in America, Europe and other countries. He said that America and British based Pakistani doctors and surgeons are ready to provide services in PKLI. He disclosed that an endowment fund of 500 million dollars is also being set up for the kidney and liver transplantation institute.
Dr Saeed Akhtar said that Kidney And Liver Transplant Institute is being construed due to personal interest and efforts of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who has not only evinced interest in making state of the art institute for the treatment of poor patients but also expressed willingness on providing 50 acre of land as well as funds of 16 billion rupees.
Professor Saeed Akhtar told that 3.5 billion rupees have been allocated for the construction of the institute during the current year. Kh Salman Rafique said that work will be carried out round the clock for early completion of the institute and if needed, the government will provide more funds for this purpose during current financial year.