Daily Times

LAHORE: The Medicare Health Foundation Hospital on Sunday arranged its annually carnival at the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club to aware citizens about the hospital services, especially maternal and child healthcare.

A large number of families participated in the event and visited various stalls that were set up to facilitate the public. The families on the occasion were seen buying clothes, jewellery and other items placed on different stalls.

Medicare Trust Chairman Saeed Shamsi told Daily Times that the aim behind organising this mega event was to aware people about the services, which the Medicare Health Foundation Hospital has been offering since 1998. Briefing on the trust’s history, he said that a small group of housewives had decided to initiative a social activity programme named ASK, under which medical camps, anti-polio drives and vaccination programmes were organised to provide free medical treatment to the poor and needy persons.

Saeed Shamsi said that the Medicare Foundation Hospital envisioned establishing a maternal and child healthcare system, 20 to 50-bedded community hospital, as well as 200 small-scale community-based mother and child healthcare units. He said that a 30-bedded hospital was already providing medical free treatment on Khokhar Road, Badami Bagh, adding that a two-bedded hospital at Shadgabh was also functioning for several years.

He said that all MCH units would have the same branding and systems to ensure standardised and quality care services to all, irrespective of their financial status.

Medicare Foundation General Secretary Asim Qadri told Daily Times that the organisation grew up steadily and by the year 2000, Medicare Trust Hospital was established in order to achieve higher goals and standards.

“On August 14, 2005, Medicare Foundation Hospital opened its doors to the public and currently, at least 300 to 350 patients are being provided with free medical treatment on daily basis,” he informed, adding that the cost of free treatment was borne by the trust through donations and Zakat.

He said that careful monitoring of pregnancies helped reduce maternal and infant mortality, adding that the expectant mothers were always welcome for free consultation and guidance. He said that prenatal services were available 24/7 and patients were also examined, advised and treated by senior gynecologists and house doctors.

Qadri said that other medical facilities including immunisation and vaccination, laboratory and diagnostics service, and a dental clinic were also available, adding that medicines worth Rs 250,000 to 300,000 were being provided to the poor patients every month with the help of donations and Zakat funds.