Sindh govt to outsource X-ray facilities to private companies

KARACHI: Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah has decided to outsource all X-ray facilities and other testing units in government hospitals to private companies so that individuals can use the facilities around the clock.

CM Murad Ali Shah took the decision while chairing a session at the CM House on Wednesday, attended by the health minister, Dr. Azra Pechuho, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro, health secretary Saeed Awan, finance secretary Hassan Naqvi, Public Health Engineering secretary Niaz Abbasi, Works secretary Imran Atta Soomro, People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) CEO Wahab Soomro, Dow University of Health Sciences vice-chancellor Saeed Qureshi, National Institute of Cardio-Vascular Diseases executive director Dr Nadeem Qamar and other relevant officials.

The CM voiced his discontent at the “under-performing” facilities in public hospitals that are being set up with massive investment. He instructed the health department to prepare a proposal for outsourcing units with an agreement that they would operate around the clock.

“Despite spending a lot of funds, these labs and radiology services are not provided round the clock as is being done in the private sector,” he said. “We are ready to give them [private partner] funds and staff but they must utilise labs and radiology machines to their maximum capacity and maintain them properly.”