Secretary Health Inaugurates New Testing System For Bacterial Diseases

KARACHI- Secretary Health Sindh Dr. Usman Chachar inaugurated an automated identification and susceptibility testing system, known as BD Phoenix, at Dr. Ruth K.M Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) for accurate and reliable detection of known and emerging antimicrobial resistance.

Medical Superintendent, CHK, Dr. Muhammad Taufiq, Head of Central Lab, CHK, Dr. Ghulam Fatima, Additional Medical Superintendent, CHK Dr. Arif Niaz and other administrative officials were present at this occasion.

Dr. Usman Chachar stated that, this testing system giving minimum inhibitory concentration antibiotics (MIC) is the first automation system in microbiology in any public sector hospital’s laboratory. He expressed his appreciation towards the hospital’s administration for the induction of advance equipments, in order to facilitate patients in a better manner.

Medical Superintendent, CHK, Dr. Muhammad Taufiq, added that this identification and susceptibility testing system provides accurate and reliable detection of antimicrobial resistance, rapidly. Additionally, its state of the art data management monitors analyzes and communicates actionable results, directly to the laboratories and concerned clinicians. This system also follows a barcode system, which helps in minimizing human errors.

Dr. Muhammad Taufiq also informed that, CHK has installed a flow-cytometer within a public sector hospital laboratory, which is being used for diagnosing certain cancers, such as leukemia and lymphomas.

Moreover, he requested the Secretary Health to sanction extra budget for purchase of reagents for flow-cytometer and Phoenix system. He mentioned that Dowites ‘83 have provided the health facility with privately hired staff, but a number of posts are still lying vacant.