Federal Health Minister Amir Mahmood Kiyani on Tuesday visited the Pakistan Institute of Medical Studies (PIMS) Hospital to distribute Eid gifts among patients. Upon arrival, he was briefed by PIMS Executive Director Dr Raja Amjad Mahmood on the functioning of the hospital and its performance. The minister took a round the children hospital and distributed gifts among children admitted at the hospital. Speaking on the occasion he said parents of children admitted in hospitals during Eid holidays are distressed. He said the government is giving special attention to mother and child health in accordance with vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. All out efforts will be made to improve the health status of the population. The minister directed PIMS authorities to provide best possible facilities to the patients. “We will remove all obstacles in the way of provision of quality health care to the masses. People will soon see visible improvement in quality of care in government hospital,” he said. He said “we seek cooperation of judiciary and media in this context”, adding that PIMS should work within its resources. The minister expressed concern that expensive equipment like MRI was out of order at the hospital. He said “we will provide all possible resources to PIMS. It is PM Imran Khan’s vision to upgrade health facilities. There is a dire need for more health facilities in Islamabad. The economic impact of health cost causes severe hardship for the middle class”. On the model of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Sehat Sahulat Card, facilities will be provided to masses across the country. He lamented that in the past governments had not paid attention to health and education. Published in Daily Times, August 22nd 2018.