Indus Hospital reaches out to businessmen

KARACHI: Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) met the world-renowned philanthropist and the founding president of the Indus Hospital Dr Abdul Bari Khan at the FPCCI head office, Karachi, a statement said.

The two leaders discussed the ways and means to assist through which the business, industry and trade community of Pakistan can assist the Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) with their under construction projects, planned non-for-profit ventures and operational costs, it added.

Sheikh proposed that the business community should set up a collective fund under the umbrella of the apex body to help bridge the financing gaps being faced by the Indus Hospital.

In this manner, he said, various chambers, trade bodies and associations can adopt a floor, various wards or rooms to finance their operations.

Sheikh appreciated the fact that IHHN has now expanded to 15 hospitals across Pakistan and treat 500,000 patients every month — free of charge. This is an achievement by any national or international standard, he added.

Dr Abdul Bari Khan said that the ongoing construction of 1,350-bed tertiary-care hospital and the centre of excellence in Karachi with a project cost of Rs20 billion has been provided 60 to 70 per cent funds; and, the remaining funding needs would be arranged to complete this project.

He also highlighted that the business community and the FPCCI members had always been at the forefront of supporting the cause of the Indus Hospital; and expressed the hope that the FPCCI members will support them with even greater vigor, zeal and ownership.

Suleman Chalwa, senior vice president of the FPCCI, said that the apex trade body will also encourage its member bodies to support IHHN; and, their public-private partnership (PPP) or 3P framework should be imbibed for more transformations of the public sector healthcare facilities.

He also stressed that the government has failed to provide healthcare services to the masses; and, now that, Pakistan’s population is expected to reach 350 million by 2050, it is immensely critical for the private sector and the philanthropists to play their role in bridging the ever-yawning gaps.