It has been 8 years since Parvaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology of Bahawalpur became functional and the number of patients has reached from hundreds to millions, but the number of beds in the cardiac center has not increased, nor the number of angiography and echocardiography machines.

It should be noted that cardiology services were started in Bahawalpur’s Parvaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology in 2018 with only 150 beds. Along with the rapidly increasing number of local patients suffering from heart diseases, heart patients from South Punjab and other parts of the country have been visiting Bahawalpur Cardiac Center for treatment for the past several years.

According to the data, from January 1 to July 31 this year, about one and a half lakh patients have been reported in the OPD of the Cardiac Institute, while 12,000 patients have been admitted.

During this time, about 8 thousand angiography procedures have also been done. According to the administration, medicines and medical facilities are being provided free of cost to all patients including OPD.

According to the head of department of the hospital, Dr. Shahadat Ali, compared to the increasing number of patients, the institution currently has only two angiography machines, four echocardiography machines and 150 beds.

According to the administration, the existing resources are insufficient to cope with the increasing patient load, due to which the patients as well as the doctors are facing difficulties.

Patients and their guardians say that keeping in mind the performance of Cardiac Center Bahawalpur and the increasing number of patients, the government should take immediate steps to provide modern facilities and better medical services so that timely and better treatment can be provided.