KARACHI – Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday assured that no disruption would be allowed in the provision of free treatment for heart patients at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), despite the institution facing a major financial shortfall.
The chief minister made the remarks while presiding over the 84th meeting of the NICVD Governing Body, where officials informed the forum that the institute is currently facing an overall deficit of Rs4.6 billion.
According to a spokesperson, NICVD Executive Director Professor Tahir Saghir briefed the meeting on the hospital’s financial and administrative situation. Following the briefing, the chief minister decided to restore the legal status of the NICVD and directed that all legal ambiguities be removed to ensure the continuity of services.
CM Murad Ali Shah reiterated that free cardiac care for patients would not be allowed to face any hurdles under any circumstances.
The meeting approved a grant-in-aid of Rs15.5 billion to meet the hospital’s operational expenses. It also gave approval for the immediate appointment of a Chief Operating Officer (COO) and a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to strengthen the institution’s management and financial oversight.
The chief minister further stated that the NICVD would require an additional Rs3.5 billion in the fiscal year 2025–26 to maintain its services and expand patient care, adding that the provincial government would take all necessary steps to enable the institute to continue serving the public without interruption.
