Punjab Minister for Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafiq has said that Punjab government would welcome cooperation of international institutions for providing best care health facilities to the people. Capacity-building of the medical staff and introducing of modern technology in the teaching hospitals.
He stated while talking to a joint delegation of Gift of Life International and Pakistan Children Heart Foundation (PCHF), here today. Chief Executive of Gift of Life International Rob Raylman, CE PCHF Farhan Ahmad and other office-bearers of both the institutions were included in the delegation. Dean Institute of Child Health and Children Hospital Lahore Prof. Masood Sadiq was also present in the meeting. Rob Raylman informed that his institution is the sister organization of Rotary International which is providing treatment and surgical facilities to the children suffering from congenital heart diseases in 78 countries of the world. He offered the services for training and capacity-building of the doctors and nurses serving in Children Hospital as well as other hospitals in Peads Cardiology Departments. He said that health mission would be sent to Punjab from abroad for imparting training to the local doctors and nurses would also be sent abroad from Punjab to get training as master trainers. Rob Raylman also said that their NGO is ready to send complicated cases of heart diseases for treatment abroad. He informed the Minister that Gift of Life will also provide medical equipment to the proposed children hospital to be built by Pakistan Children Heart Foundation at Ferozepur Road. CE PCHF Farhan Ahmad informed that his foundation has so far sponsored 721 surgeries of congenital heart diseases children free of cost. He disclosed that one surgery costs four to five lakh rupees. He further said that PCHF has planned to construct children heart hospital and research institute on Ferozepur Road for which piece of land is already available. He said that cooperation of Punjab government would be required for this noble cause. Dean Institute of Child Health Prof. Masood Sadiq disclosed that every year the number of children with congenital heart diseases is increasing for which close cooperation of public and private institutions is very essential. He disclosed that after completion of extended block of children hospital Lahore, the capacity of heart surgeries have been increased three times as 16 operation theaters have been functionalized in new block and the patients are turning all over the country to the children hospital. The Minister Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq while thanking the CE of Gift of Life International for extending his cooperation for training and capacity-building of the medical staff, said that Punjab government would welcome international cooperation and extend all out support to complete the task.