Edhi plans first mobile hospital

[LRE]

Edhi plans first mobile hospital

By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: The Edhi Welfare Trust (EWT) is working to establish a mobile hospital in Pakistan worth 10 million rupees.

The mobile hospital will have to be imported from the United Kingdom (UK) and it will be second-hand as new ones cost up to Rs 80 million, which is not sitting well with the Ministry of Commerce over concerns of pollution.

EWT trustee Faisal Edhi, talking to Daily Times, said that Ministry of Commerce has refused to allow the import of 15 second-hand caravans from the UK, saying that since they are used they will increase environmental pollution. “The caravans are just coaches. They do not have an engine but are meant to be dragged behind a vehicle. This can be any vehicle, even a CNG-operated car, jeep or bus, which are environmentally efficient. To say that engineless caravans will create pollution is a lame excuse and shows ineptitude on the part of the officials,” said the bemused trustee.

He added that the Ministry of Commerce, has, however, advised the EWT to import brand new caravans. The EWT wants to import second-hand caravans because one second-hand caravan costs around Rs 200,000 and a new one about Rs 3,000,000, which is beyond its budget.

“Even though we have locally started collecting supplies and other donations a mobile hospital without a caravan is not possible,” said Faisal. If successful the mobile hospital project will work under the management of Civil hospital. A mobile hospital can be set up anywhere within 24 hours. The mobile hospital will consist of an Intensive Care Unit, Examination Room, Operation Theatre and all facilities for emergency needs. This has become somewhat of a necessity after the earthquake in Northern areas, noted Faisal.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg7_24