By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho has inaugurated a modern 50-bed Trauma and Emergency Response Centre (T&ERC) at Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College and Civil Hospital Sukkur, established under the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institute of Trauma.
During her visit to the hospital, the provincial health minister also launched the anti-polio booster dose campaign by administering polio drops to children.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by MNA Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Sindh government spokesperson and Sukkur Mayor Barrister Arsalan Islam Shaikh, Commissioner Sukkur Abid Saleem Qureshi, Deputy Commissioner Nadir Shahzad Khan, Medical Superintendent Civil Hospital Sukkur Dr Ahmad Mujtaba Memon, Principal Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Dr Saleh Mohammad Channa, Director Health Dr Farrukh Bhanbhro, District Health Officer Dr Ali Gul Shah and senior health officials.
After the inauguration, Dr Pechuho inspected various departments of the trauma centre, including the X-ray unit, minor operation theatre, emergency wards and other modern medical facilities. She directed officials to ensure timely, quality and uninterrupted healthcare services for patients.
Principal Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Dr Saleh Channa informed the minister that around 6,000 patients visit the hospital’s outpatient department every day, while the current budget of Rs400 million was insufficient to meet the growing needs. He highlighted financial challenges caused by the closure of maintenance and repair funds and non-release of the revised budget, requesting additional funds for the hospital and medical college.
Sindh government spokesperson and Sukkur Mayor Barrister Arsalan Islam Shaikh said the Pakistan Peoples Party government was taking practical steps to provide modern healthcare facilities and basic services to the public. He cited institutions including SICVD, Children’s Hospital and SIUT as examples of the government’s efforts to improve healthcare services.
MNA Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah said the PPP had completed several major health sector projects that had gained international recognition. He mentioned GIMS, SICVD, the CyberKnife facility at Jinnah Hospital Karachi, Children’s Hospital and trauma centres as examples of advanced medical facilities.
He said Sukkur’s strategic location, connecting Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab, along with heavy traffic movement due to the motorway network, increased the need for a modern trauma facility. He added that the new centre would play an important role in providing immediate medical assistance to accident victims and emergency patients.
Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah had played a significant role in public welfare, particularly in strengthening healthcare facilities in Sukkur. She said the establishment of institutions such as SICVD, Children’s Hospital and SIUT reflected continued efforts towards improving medical services.
Addressing concerns over staff shortages and lack of qualified faculty at Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College, the health minister directed authorities to immediately prepare a summary so that additional teaching and medical staff could be provided after consultation with the Sindh chief minister.
Speaking to media representatives, Dr Pechuho said the Sukkur Trauma Centre was initially a 50-bed facility designed to treat victims of accidents and would be expanded in the future due to Sukkur’s central location and its links with several districts of Sindh and Punjab.
Responding to questions, she said CT scan and MRI equipment required timely maintenance and added that the radiology department, including CT scan and MRI services at Civil Hospital Sukkur, would be outsourced to improve efficiency and address public complaints.
She also said climate change-related extreme heat had made air conditioning facilities essential for patients and efforts would be made to provide better cooling arrangements at the hospital.
