PESHAWAR: The Khyber Medical University (KMU) General Hospital and the Pakistan Institute of Cardiology (PIC), Peshawar, have decided to integrate their data systems through the Health Information Management System (HIMS) for better health service delivery.
KMU has established its general hospital, which has not been integrated yet but decided to work with PIC, particularly by referring cardiac patients to the facility dedicated to cater to the needs of heart patients.This initiative aims to enhance patient care by improving service exchange between the two public-sector institutions.
The KMU has reportedly hired staff from different hospitals and was expected to set up a health facility to the level of modern hospitals in its surroundings. Also, there were reports that the KMU-run hospital would have modern facilities as well as important specialties such as cardiology, but it decided to send its cardiac patients to PIC, which is adjacent to the proposed hospital.
Most of the tertiary hospitals in Peshawar, including LRH, KTH and HMC are overcrowded and it is difficult for the patients to get a bed in days in some of the departments such as cardiology, neurosurgery, medicine, neurology and gastroenterology. Cardiac patients are referred to Peshawar from all over the province and then in Peshawar, the patients are shuttled between these hospitals.
PIC, which is dedicated to cardiac patients, is also overburdened and patients are referred to other hospitals when they are taken to its emergency department. The KMU’s general hospital was expected to have developed important departments and offered services, which are not available in the peripheries. KMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ziaul Haq emphasised the importance of this collaboration, saying that the partnership between these institutions was not only essential for their growth but it would also provide high-quality clinical services to patients. He said that KMU had established itself as a leading institution in medical education and research, and by incorporating clinical services, it was taking a vital step towards merging research with patient care.
He however said that KMU General Hospital would provide specialised services in diabetes, oncology, gastroenterology, and rehabilitation with the potential to develop into a premier healthcare centre for the region. Prof Dr Ziaul Haq also mentioned that PIC and KMU General Hospital could jointly establish a successful healthcare model, leveraging PIC’s expertise to enhance KMU hospital’s service delivery. The exchange of knowledge, expertise, research and resources between the two institutions would bring significant improvements in patient treatment.
The financial model of this collaboration would be guided by PIC’s successful systems, and PIC’s expertise in civil work, technical services, clinical operations, finance, human resources, and diagnostics would play a crucial role in improving KMU hospital’s services.
The VC announced that in the next phase, KMU’s nine remote campuses would also be linked with KMU General Hospital, ensuring that healthcare services reach remote areas of the province.
Dean of PIC, Dr Shahkar Ahmad, reaffirmed PIC’s commitment to this collaboration, saying, “Our doors are always open for cooperation and guidance. By formulating short, medium and long-term strategies, KMU General Hospital and PIC can effectively achieve their shared goals.”