Staff Reporter
President Dr. Arif Alvi paid a surprise visit to the Institute of Child Health (NICH) here on
Monday.He visited different sections of the institute and reviewed health facilities being provided there.
The president was briefed about the working, performance and problems of the institutions.Speaking on
the occasion, the President said provision of better health facilities to the people is top priority of the
government and steps in this regards are being taken. Talking to reporters following his surprise visit to
the NICH, he said it was a critical requirement to meet the growing pressure of patients from the city
itself as well as from other parts of the country in search of specialized medical treatment. Four to five
child patients could be seen accommodated on a single bed at the NICH and “this is definitely a matter
of serious concern for me and also for the government,” he added. The situation, he said, reflected the
intensity in terms of patients’ load as well as that of resource constraints.To a question, President Alvi
said it was on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan that he was visiting the facility. “I have also
sought details of the recent tragic incident at the NICH causing loss of a precious life,” he said,
mentioning that NICH Director Dr Syed Jamal Raza had given him a detailed presentation on the working
of the facility. “I was told that there are 70 incubators at the NICH,” he added.About another question
with regard to transfer of three major tertiary care hospitals, including Jinnah Post Graduate Medical
Centre (JPMC), NICH and National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), he said it was in
compliance with the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan.“Equal responsibilities lie upon the federal and
provincial governments to ensure smooth transfer of administrative control so that no inconvenience is
caused to the patients in any manner,” President Alvi said. The president, who also accompanied by First
Lady Mrs Samina Alvi, took round of different wards and distributed gifts among the child patients.He
also personally listened to the caretakers accompanying the kids and observed with concern that many
of them have to procure medicines and other essential accessories for the kids from outside the
hospital. The president later also visited National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD).He on the
occasion took round of the emergency units, out-patient department (OPD), adult wards, cath lab and
different assessment units to help procure first hand information about the well-being of the patients.
He mingled with the heart patients and their attendants.
