New public-private health project in the offing

Karachi
An agreement has been reached between the provincial government and a non-governmental organisation, Poverty Eradication Initiative (PEI), for the launch of a flagship health project, Sindh Medical Support Programme (SMSP), under a public-private investment partnership.
At a meeting held at the CM House on Tuesday, it was decided that the government and PEI - an organisation sponsored by Pakistani philanthropists living in the US and Canada - would raise Rs5 billion for the project. As per details, PEI would be providing Rs3.5 billion for the procurement of medical and surgical equipments for public hospitals, while the government itself would provide Rs1.5 billion. The CM has now constituted a five-member technical committee - headed by the health secretary and comprising two experts each from PEI and the government - to evaluate the proposed project and prepare a plan within a week. Shah has also nominated Senator Taj Haider as the project’s focal person.