ISLAMABAD:Head Pakistan Medical Mission in Makkah Dr Syed Asif Ali says government is providing best primary medical care possible in the form of consultation, medicines, and pathology services to Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia free of cost.
Talking to Radio Pakistan’s Special Correspondent Muhammad Akram Khan in Makkah today, he said we have established a 35-bed hospital, extendable to 40 beds, in Makkah and a ten-bed hospital, extendable to 15 beds, in Medina.
He said 18 ambulances, equipped with latest lifesaving equipment are available to transport patients to and from their residences to health facilities setup by the Pakistan Government and to Saudi hospitals.
Dr Syed Asif Ali said nine dispensaries, one each in every sector of pilgrim’s residential area, and one sub-dispensary on need basis, have been established in Makkah to provide medical services to pilgrims.
He said two dispensaries are operational in Medina and one more is operating at Jeddah Hajj Terminal to take care of health issues of Hujjaj.
He said two new dispensaries will also be opened at Bhatta Quresh with two ambulances. He said the number of total ambulances with the Mission have been increased from 9 to 18 this year.
He said three of them are in Medina to serve the Hajj pilgrims, which can be called to Makkah on need basis.
Dr Syed Asif Ali said we attend around five hundred people daily in Out-Patient Department and this number will go up in coming days on the arrival of more pilgrims.
Regarding the medical staff, he said that Pakistan Hajj Medical Mission comprises 620 total personnel, which include 180 doctors, around 120 nurses.
While rest is paramedics including pharmacists, dispensers, radiographers, and lab technicians. He said 45 female doctors are also part of the mission to treat women pilgrims.
To a question, he said pilgrims come with generalized body aids as they are not used to extensive walk, which they have to perform during Tawaf and Safa Marwa. Indigestion, constipation, flue and dehydration are other common ailments the Hujjaj come with him.
Dr Syed Asif Ali advised the pilgrims to wear mask to avoid infection, ensure proper water intakes to keep away dehydration, go for frequent hand washing, do not exert massively, and take proper rest, and use fruit and fresh salad in diet.
Answering another question, Dr Syed Asif Ali urged the intending pilgrims, who are still in Pakistan, to bring with them their medicines they are using for chronic diseases like heart problems.
Dr Syed Asif Ali said we have medical specialists, cardiologist, chest specialist, skin specialist, orthopedic surgeon, psychiatrist, radiologist, and dentist available at the hospital.
He said laboratories are fully equipped and all the consultation and medicines are provided to Pakistani pilgrims free of cost, irrespective of pilgrims of government or private Hajj scheme.
He said meals are also provided to admit patients as per physician’s advice. He said serious cases are referred to Saudi hospitals and, so far, 21 cases have been sent there.
Dr Syed Asif Ali highly appreciated and thanked the Saudi Government for its cooperation in handling serious medical cases.
He said about two dozen of Pakistani cardiac patients have so far been treated at Saudi hospitals, where angiography and angioplasty were performed upon them.
He said the Saudi Government is also generous in treating patients with liver failure. He said Saudi Kingdom is not only taking care of Pakistani patients, but also treats other countries’ pilgrims as sign of Islamic brotherhood, which is commendable.(INP)
