Rs100b expansion plan to add 500 beds, build twin towers while preserving 120-year-old heritage
KARACHI:
The first-ever large-scale expansion of one of the country’s oldest and busiest public hospitals, Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital in Karachi, has been approved by the Sindh government. The project will add 500 new beds and introduce modern medical infrastructure while preserving the facility’s historic buildings dating back more than a century.
The Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital was built in 1898, decades before the creation of Pakistan. Under the new master plan, the hospital’s capacity will increase from 2,000 to 2,500 beds. The project was approved at an estimated cost of Rs100 billion.
The expansion plan also ensures the preservation of the hospital’s historic structures, some of which are more than 120 years old. These include the heritage building associated with Queen Victoria, as well as other historically significant buildings located within the hospital premises.
According to the approved design, the hospital will be redeveloped in accordance with modern international healthcare standards. Two new 12-story towers will be built within the hospital grounds, with separate towers dedicated to medical and surgical units to provide patients with comprehensive treatment under a one-stop healthcare system.
The decision was taken on Monday in a meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. During the session, the chief minister gave final approval to the new master plan of the hospital, which aims to transform the facility into a state-of-the-art healthcare hub. The project will also involve private partners under a public-private partnership model to help improve medical services, infrastructure and management systems.
As part of the expansion plan, several new facilities will be created, including a new outpatient department (OPD) block, a modern burns ward and a dedicated prison ward. The project will also include the construction of a modern morgue and the introduction of an improved hospital waste management system.
Chief Minister Shah further decided to form a monitoring board comprising government officials and private sector experts to oversee the implementation of the project and ensure transparency and timely completion.
Medical director Dr Khalid Bukhari said the hospital was currently receiving between 6,000 and 7,000 patients per day for consultation and treatment. The expansion plan, he stressed, was designed to improve patient flow and facilitate access to health services for the large number of people who rely on the hospital.
Once completed, the modernized Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital in Karachi is expected to become the largest teaching hospital in Sindh, significantly strengthening the public healthcare system in the province.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, Chairman Planning and Development Najam Shah, Finance Secretary Fayaz Jatoi, Health Secretary Tahir Sanghi, Secretary to Chief Minister Asif Jameel, Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Khalid Bukhari and Director Dr Dabeer. Social leaders Faisal Edhi, Mushtaq Chhapra, Dr Saad Khalid Niaz and Shahid Abdullah also participated in the meeting.
