ISLAMABAD, 29 JULY (DNA) – Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar on Friday said tangible measures are underway to establish state-of-the-art cancer hospital in Islamabad.

Speaking in the Senate during question hour the minister said Ministry of Health was seriously considering to set up 500-bed cancer hospital and Rs 300 million had been allocated for financial year 2016-17.

She said PC-1 had been submitted by M/S Progressive Consultants to Ministry of health with a total cost of around Rs 21 billion, adding after approval the PC-1 would be forwarded to Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform for consideration by Central Developmental Working Party (CDWP) and Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

However, she said the site of construction of the health facility had not been finalized, adding a 20 to 25 acre land was required for standalone, cancer hospital. For this purpose, she added chairman CDA had been requested to provide the land at suitable place, where people from all over Pakistan could easily approach.

She said hospital would provide comprehensive cancer treatment for all types of cancers and also impart postgraduate, undergraduate and paramedical training in all branches of oncology, to generate trained medical and paramedical manpower in the field of oncology for the country.

She said consultants firm (M/S Progressive Consultants) was hired through a competitive bidding process to conduct feasibility study for establishment of cancer hospital in Islamabad.

The feasibility study includes Conceptual Architectural Design, Cost Estimates of the Construction Work, Medical Equipment, HR Requirements and Recurring Cost after establishment of the Cancer Hospital, and to develop the PC-1 on the basis of the Feasibility Study, the minister added.

Replying to another question on behalf of Muhammad Baligh ur Rehman: Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, Saira Afzal Tarar informed the House that a total of 348 students had been sent abroad for higher education since January, 2015 till date – Azad Jammu and Kashmir 10 students, Balochistan 57, FATA-Gilgit Baltistan 12, Islamabad 3, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 40, Punjab 155 and 71 from Sindh. DNA