ISLAMABAD, Oct 28 (APP):The 250-bed Pak-China Friendship Hospital in Chak Shahzad is ready to receive patients, marking a new phase in the utilization of a healthcare facility built with Chinese assistance to improve access to medical services in Islamabad and surrounding areas.
According to official sources, the hospital has been renamed Pak-China Friendship Hospital in recognition of China’s financial contribution to its construction. The facility was previously named Margalla Hospital by its new management.
Originally established as the Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre (IHITC) during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the hospital was constructed by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Institute of Health (NIH), in just 40 days.
As per sources China provided a grant of US$ four million for the project, while the total construction cost was estimated at around Rs 980 million. The facility was inaugurated in July 2020 to provide isolation and treatment services for patients suffering from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Located near the National Institute of Health (NIH), the hospital spans approximately 40 kanals and comprises patient wards, laboratories, administrative offices and other essential infrastructure. However, it remained underutilized for a considerable period after the COVID-19 emergency subsided, amid operational challenges and shortages of medical staff.
To make the facility fully functional, the federal government adopted a public-private partnership model and selected the Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) to manage and operate the hospital.
On July 31, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination signed agreements with the IHHN for the management and operation of the hospital and the Regional Blood Centre in Islamabad, following approval of the arrangement by the federal cabinet.
The partnership aims to improve healthcare delivery, ensure effective utilization of the facility and reduce the burden on other public hospitals in the federal capital. The IHHN is a non-profit healthcare organisation that operates hospitals and medical facilities across Pakistan and provides treatment to patients without charge.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal visited the hospital ahead of its formal inauguration to review preparations and assess its readiness to begin operations.
During the visit, he inspected various departments and received a briefing from relevant officials on administrative arrangements, available medical facilities and preparations for the inauguration.
The minister stressed the importance of completing all necessary arrangements to ensure the smooth functioning of the hospital and the provision of quality healthcare services to the public.
The operationalization of the facility is expected to improve access to medical services for residents of Chak Shahzad and adjoining areas while ensuring that infrastructure developed with Chinese assistance is put to effective use.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
