Three hospitals on anvil in India, Pak and Nepal to conduct free surgeries

Ludhiana: Amid the diplomatic tensions between the two nations, a team of two eminent Pakistani doctors were in Ludhiana to attend a conference on surgery in DMC Hospital. During the course of the conference, Dr A Majeed Chaudhary, principal Lahore Medical and Dental College and president SAARC Surgical Care Society and Dr Abrar Ashraf Ali, a laparoscopic surgeon, both with roots in this side of Punjab, announced that plans are afoot to construct three hospitals, one each in Virka (India), Lahore (Pakistan) and Nepal where free surgeries would be conducted under the aegis of SAARC Surgical Care Society.

Elaborating on the initiative Chaudhary, said, “Under SAARC this will be beneficial as each country is best in some field or the other.”

They also about the medical facilities in Pakistan. “Facilities for Infertility and IVF are not much developed in Pakistan. The treatment for liver transplant and paediatric cardiac medical facilities and infrastructure are not up to the mark. Many children with holes in heart travel to India. As far as other ailments are concerned, Pakistan and India are at the same level.”

Ali added, “Many patients in Pakistan prefer travelling to India for treatment as India is the hub for medical tourism mainly for these three categories. “Medical facilities in the private sector is not much developed in Pakistan, as compared to that in the public sector. In India, private medical facilities are very developed.”

Chaudhary added, “Due to lack in infrastructure and technology, medical tourism in Pakistan has not caught up despite the presence of a sufficient number of doctors. Hepatitis C is another common problem in Pakistan like in India.”

Talking about the roots in Punjab, Dr. Chaudhary added, “My ancestors are from Ludhiana itself and lived in Chaura Bazaar (Haveli, in old city). It is always a warm and welcoming feeling when I come to Ludhiana.” On the other hand, Ali’s parents hail from Kapurthala.”


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