Quetta: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has announced that the 150 bed Balochistan Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (BICVD) is nearing completion and is expected to open later this month, providing cardiac treatment facilities within the province.
The announcement came during the first meeting of the institute's Board of Directors, chaired by the chief minister, where officials reviewed construction progress, medical equipment, staffing requirements and arrangements for the hospital's operations.
The facility is intended to reduce the need for patients from Balochistan to travel to other provinces for specialist cardiac treatment, a challenge that has added travel and accommodation costs to medical expenses for families seeking care outside their home districts. Bugti said the government wanted to make cardiac diagnosis, treatment and emergency services available closer to patients' homes.
Cardiologist appointed to oversee hospital operations
The board approved the appointment of cardiologist Dr Jalal Khan as the institute's interim head. He will supervise preparations for opening the hospital, including the arrangements required to deliver clinical services and establish its administrative system.
According to the provincial government, the institute will have diagnostic equipment, cardiac specialists and emergency care facilities to manage patients with cardiovascular conditions. The meeting focused on ensuring that the hospital is prepared to receive patients once it is inaugurated.
However, officials did not announce a confirmed opening date or provide details about the number of doctors, nurses and other medical staff recruited so far.
Satellite centres planned across Balochistan
The provincial government also outlined plans to extend cardiac services beyond Quetta through a network of satellite centres. Officials informed the meeting that three centres connected to the BICVD would begin operating during the first phase. These facilities are intended to provide initial medical assistance and support the diagnosis of heart related conditions.
Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said the second phase would expand the network to all divisional headquarters in Balochistan. The government also plans to establish Chest Pain Management Centres in every district to provide initial assessment and medical assistance to patients experiencing chest pain or symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease.
These centres are intended to help identify patients who require further treatment and facilitate their referral to specialist facilities. The proposed network could reduce the distance patients need to travel for an initial assessment, particularly in districts where access to specialist medical services is limited.
Addressing gaps in healthcare access
Balochistan's geography and the distances between settlements and major hospitals present challenges for patients seeking specialist treatment. For people living outside Quetta, accessing cardiac services can involve travelling long distances, sometimes to hospitals in other provinces.
The BICVD project seeks to address part of this problem by combining a hospital in the provincial capital with smaller facilities across the province. The effectiveness of the proposed system will depend on whether the satellite centres have the staff, equipment and referral arrangements needed to connect patients with specialist treatment.
Bugti said investment in healthcare was intended to improve access to treatment and reduce the difficulties faced by patients and their families. He maintained that the government's plans would not be limited to Quetta and that residents of other districts should also have access to cardiac care.
Officials review preparations ahead of inauguration
The board meeting was attended by Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Health Secretary Mujeebur Rehman Panizai and board members Dr Rubaba Khan Buledi and Dr Muhammad Nawaz. Dr Jalal Khan, who has been appointed interim head, also participated through a video link.
Other officials included Additional Chief Secretary for Development and Planning Zahid Saleem, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Imran Zarkoon, Special Health Secretary Shahak Baloch and representatives of the finance and administrative departments.
The government has not yet disclosed the hospital's operating budget, patient capacity beyond its 150 beds or the locations of the three satellite centres scheduled for the first phase. The next stage will involve completing operational preparations, confirming the inauguration date and bringing the first satellite facilities into service.
Once operational, the institute will provide a basis for assessing whether the province's proposed cardiac care network can improve access to diagnosis and treatment for patients living beyond Quetta.
