Ensuring Quality Healthcare Availability in Rahim Yar Khan

Longstanding regional disparities are at odds with Pakistan’s strong commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This requires immediate action to accelerate sustainable development in South Punjab and the Infrastructure Development Authority of the Punjab (IDAP) has been actively engaged since 2016 in the planning, designing, building and maintenance of infrastructure in the province following the best practices around the world.

South Punjab has 61% fewer hospital beds available than in the rest of the province whereas the population per hospital bed in South Punjab is 50% higher than in the rest of Punjab. To overcome this, IDAP has been developing Hazrat Hameed Uddin Hakim Sheikh Zayed Surgical Complex at Rahim Yar Khan and Pilot Program for Hub and Spoke Model at Zahir Pir, Rahim Yar Khan for the 420,419 residents of the area.

The existing Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan caters to the population of the district as well as its neighboring remote areas. Currently, the hospital has a 954-bed capacity across 34 departments. Around 7000 patients visit Sheikh Zayed Hospital’s OPD daily, leaving the current facility overburdened by patient influx. Hazrat Hameed Uddin Hakim Sheikh Zayed Surgical Complex in Rahim Yar Khan and Pilot Program for Hub and Spoke Model at Zahir Pir, Rahim Yar Khan are being built across an approximate area of 365,000 square feet and 133,286 square feet respectively, in order to rectify this situation. They will cater to intensive care and monitoring, infection control, dedicated operation theatres and appropriate inpatient facilities.

Following Facilities will be available at Hazrat Hameed Uddin Hakim Sheikh Zayed Surgical Complex, Rahim Yar Khan

The hospital will have a total of 448 beds divided across the following departments:

• Ophthalmology
• Orthopedic
• ENT
• Neurosurgery
• Pediatric Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery
• Burn and Plastic Surgery
• Out Patient Department
• Pre/Post Op Department
• ICU/HDU

Sheikh Zayed II will be an ultramodern, environment-friendly facility equipped with the latest waste disposal system and integrated environmental management system to mitigate the adverse effects of the construction and running of the hospital.

Following Facilities will be available at Pilot Program for Hub and Spoke Model at Zahir Pir, Rahim Yar Khan

The Spoke hospital will have a total of 66 beds divided across the following      departments:

• Labor Ward
• Medical Ward
• Surgical Ward
• Nursery
• Emergency Ward
• Triage, Resus Bay and Emergency Operation Theatres

It will comprise of the following departments:

• Out Patient Department
• Radiology
• 3 Operation Theatres
• Wards
• Gynae Department with Delivery Suites

Hazrat Hameed Uddin Hakim Sheikh Zayed Surgical Complex and Hub and Spoke Model at Zahir Pir, Rahim Yar Khan will also house a clinical pathology lab, a blood bank, pharmacy, radiology lab and C.S.S.D. The hospitals will be fully equipped with all the advanced technology in the medical field and have a team of competent doctors, nurses, technicians and consultants. In addition, Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and HIMS will be put into effect. Not only this but record keeping, patient registration, E-prescription, the use of IT support for EMR will also be put into action.

These hospitals will help achieve a sustainable community by making underdeveloped South Punjab self-sufficient in terms of healthcare. The construction of these hospitals will play an important role for the economy by creating several job opportunities that would elevate the standard of living of the people of South Punjab.