CM Sindh inaugurates country's 1st free PET scan facility at SIUT

KARACHI- Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah formally inaugurated the 1st free cancer scanning facility PET CT Scan at SIUT’s Mehrunnisa Medical Centre, Korangi.

PET CT (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan is a major diagnostic tool for the cancer population as it assists doctors with detection and diagnosis of cancer and its particular stages, enabling them to provide prompt and effective management of the disease. The PET CT Scan has been operating since December 2016 and to date 105 procedures have been carried out.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that cancer is a major health issue all over the world and this facility will provide the much needed service for diagnosis of cancer patients in a public sector hospital.

The CM, while lauding the services of Prof Adib Rizvi and his institute, said that this is another achievement of SIUT to provide free medical healthcare facility by installing PET/CT and Cyclotron facility at its Korangi Centre.

On behalf of Sindh Government, Murad Ali Shah reiterated continued wholehearted support to SIUT and vowed to fully sponsor the establishment of such a facility in Sukkur Centre as well.

Director SIUT, Prof. Adib Rizvi gave a comprehensive presentation on SIUT and its services. He said that in the last decade some 20,000 patients of bladder, kidney, prostate and adrenal malignancies were registered at SIUT’s Hanifa Suleman Dawood Oncology Centre.

He pointed out that the treatment of these patients includes 28,000 major cancer surgeries, 51,990 radiotherapy, 26,474 chemotherapy and over 2,335 brachytherapy services provided free to the patients. The total out-patient visits numbered 162,116.

Enumerating the various services being carried out at Mehrunnisa, he said that there is a six day OPD schedule, medical and surgical treatment of patients with diseases of Urology, Nephrology, Paediatric, Hepato-gastroenterology, Diabetes and Pulmonology. The Centre is also providing dialysis facilities on a daily basis at its 40 stations which is an important segment of SIUT’s activities. Now inclusion of PET/CT facility for cancer treatment is a new addition to further broaden the scope of facilities provided at Mehrunnisa Medical Centre.

On this occasion, Dr Sikandar Mandhro.Minister for Health Sindh and Jam Mehtab Dahar Minister Education and Literacy Sindh also accompanied the Sindh Chief Minister. The event was attended by a large number of people from different walks of life including doctors, paramedical staff, dignataries and media representatives.