KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed the health department to expedite the completion of 113 health facilities that were launched in 17 districts and 41 talukas at the cost of Rs16.13 billion.

`The work on these schemes has been delayed inordinately. I want to see them functional,` he said, while presiding over a meeting of the health department, held on Tuesday at CM House to review the development schemes.

Directing health minister Jam Mehtab Dahar to take necessary measures to make them functional as soon as they are handed over to the department, the CM stressed that `the purpose of utilising million of rupees on the upgrade and expansion of the hospitals would be achieve d when they would start providing health services to the people of their respective areas.

He also made inquiries about the progress of trauma centres being established in 41 tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospitals.

The meeting was attended by senior minister for finance & energy Syed Murad Ali Shah, the health minister, chief secretary Siddique Memon, additional chief secretary of planning anddevelopment (P&D) Aijaz Ali Khan, principal secretary to the CM Alamuddin Bullo, secretary finance Sohail Rajput, secretary health Saeed Mangnijo, project director Dr Suresh, DG Health and other senior officers of the health and P&D departments.

Referring to the progress of trauma centres, the health minister informed the meeting that 18 centres stand completed while 83 per cent of the work on the remaining has been done.

The chief minister said he would start inaugurating the upgraded hospitals and trauma centres from January 2016. `This is a public service and we are committed to our people, therefore each and every one of us has to personally monitor the quality of the work and their completion in time,` he urged all those present.

The health minister further said that the expansion and improvement of district headquarters (DHQ) hospitals in six districts Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Sanghar,MirpurMatheloandNaushahro Feroze was about to be completed at a cost of Rs3.24 billion. He added that the work on the hospital in Dadu has been completed 62 per cent, in Mirpurkhas 72 per cent, in Thatta 52 per cent, in Mirpur Mathelo 70 per cent, in Naushahro Feroze 70 per cent while the work of the hospital in Sanghar is finished.In response to a query by the chief minister, finance minister Syed Murad Shah said that he had allocated Rs450 million for the scheme during the current year and would be giving more funds subject to the progress of the schemes.

The secretary health Saeed Mangnijo said, while briefing the meeting, that the work on health facilities pertaining to up-gradation, expansion and renovation of DHQs, THQs as well as the establishment of 41 trauma centres would be completed by December 31and would cost Rs16.13 billion.

Giving a progress report on the health facilities, he added that under the scheme Rs4.5 billion for expansion and improvement of DHQs in Badin, Shikarpur, Khairpur and Mithi has been released. `The work on Badin DHQ for Rs1,106.2 million has been completed 96 per cent and final touchups are being made,` he said.

With regards to the construction work of Shikarpur DHQ hospital launched for Rs942.94 million, almost 78 per cent of the work is completed, while work on the Khairpur hospital, launched for Rs1,610.067 million, is 80 per cent complete.

Syed Murad Ali Shah said that his department has already released Rs500 million. `Let them utilise the availablefunds and then more funds will be provided for the completion of the schemes,` he assured the meeting.

Project director, Dr Suresh said that the up-gradation of THQ to the level of DHQs hospitals in Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar and Kotri has been launched for Rs1.5 billion, of which Rs824.677 million has been released so far while the allocation of this year stands at Rs772.637 million.

He also said that 70 per cent of the work at the hospital in Tando Mohammad Khan, 90 per cent in Tando Allahyar and 99 per cent at the Kotri hospital has been completed. `They are ready to be inaugurated,` he said.

The up-gradation of THQs in Matiari, Umerkot, Kamber and Kandhkot has been launched for Rs3.6 billion. Over 45 to 50 per cent of physical work in all hospitals, except the one in Kandhl(ot, has been done. `The P&D has to issue an administrative approval for the award of the contract for the hospital of Kandhkot,` he said.

The chief minister directed ACS (P&D) Aijaz Ali Khan to sit with the health department and settle the issue of the administrative approval. `Why are these schemes of public interest being delayed? I will not spare anybody if their work is not completed on time, he warned.