Pawan Kumar
KARACHI: Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has announced a significant advancement in healthcare for Sindh, including Karachi, with the inauguration of new state-of-the-art facilities at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC). The newly established units comprise a 120-bed Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, a 110-bed Department of Neurology and Stroke Unit, and the advanced CyberKnife S7-FIM technology, furthering the province’s commitment to offering high-quality and free healthcare services.
In a press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP highlighted in his address at the inauguration ceremony that the best hospitals in Pakistan are located in Sindh. He emphasized that Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), and National Institute of Child Health (NICH) are premier healthcare institutions in the country. He noted that despite negative news about Pakistan often being circulated, these institutions stand as beacons of hope and are exemplary models of good governance and successful public-private partnerships by the provincial government. He remarked, “You may have heard criticisms suggesting that the Sindh government does nothing or that we don’t undertake mega projects. But actions speak louder than words.”
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stressed that after the devolution of powers from the Center, the PPP-led provincial government has established the world’s largest heart hospital, NICVD, offering free treatment to patients. Additionally, NICH provides free healthcare services to children. He highlighted that JPMC’s CyberKnife machine, used for cancer treatment, is available in only a few countries worldwide and costs over a thousand dollars abroad, while JPMC offers the same treatment for free.
He proudly stated that the Royal College of Radiology has ranked JPMC’s cancer treatment department among the top ten globally. He commended the business community of Sindh for partnering with the provincial government in providing free healthcare services and recognized them as leaders in charity work across the country.
Contrasting the approach of other provincial governments, which prioritize private hospitals through health cards, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asserted that his party and the Sindh government take pride in providing free and quality healthcare services to the public. He noted that the expensive PET-CT scan required for cancer diagnosis is not offered for free in any other province except Sindh. He mentioned that JPMC’s cancer department attracts patients from 167 cities across the country, as well as from 15 other countries.
Addressing Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chairman PPP suggested that during the Prime Minister’s next visit to Karachi, he should be taken on a tour of JPMC, NICVD, and NICH. He expressed his willingness to assist in establishing similar hospitals in Punjab and highlighted ongoing efforts to set up such facilities in Balochistan. “We want similar hospitals in Lahore so that people there can also benefit from free treatment,” he added.
Additionally, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari participated in a signing ceremony between the Patients’ Aid Foundation and the Sindh Government for the Radiation Oncology Section at JPMC. The ceremony was also attended by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, provincial ministers, assembly members, and party leaders.
