Railways Minister visits IIMCT, hospital
By Saad Ahmed

RAWALPINDI—The Railway Minister Mian Shamim Haider visited Islamic International Medical College Trust - Railway Hospital Rawalpindi Saturday (15-10-2005) to enquire about the welfare of the earthquake victims admitted to the hospital. He was accompanied by the Director Health and Medical Services Pakistan Railway Dr. Aitzaz and Divisional Superintendent Railway Mr. Noor Muhammad Khan.
The Minister went round various wards and met the hospital staff and patients. He saw the arrangements made by the hospital authorities for treatment of the injured coming from quake hit areas. He was told that 50 more patients were brought from the affected areas last night and this morning. The hospital has so far admitted 252 patients. Most of them were fractured cases. Doctors at IIMCT Railway hospital, a teaching hospital of Islamic International Medical College, performed over 70 major surgeries.
The Minister appreciated the arrangements made at the IIMCT Railway hospital for the treatment of quake affected people. He also lauded the services of Doctors and other hospital staff who are busy in looking after the patients day and night with dedication.
He was informed that hospital authorities are facing the problem of shortage of medicines. They requested the minister to help in overcoming this difficulty applying the same policy for supply of medicines as is applicable on the government hospitals. He promised to look into the matter.
The Railway Minister formally saw off the doctors, para-medical staff and equipment dispatched to the field hospital set-up by the IIMCT-Railway Hospital at Balakot. Three trucks of relief goods brought from Lahore were also sent to the Balakot field hospital. The Minister said two more trucks load of relief goods will be reaching from Lahore on way to Balakot.
The Divisional Superintendent Pakistan Railway Mr. Noor Muhammad Khan distributed Rs. 50,000/- among the patients in the hospitals.
Meanwhile, four more patients have been brought to the Islamic International Medical Complex Islamabad, another teaching hospital of Islamic International Medical College, from the quake hit areas for treatment.