Page 223 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

such unit. In fact, some of the neighbouring districts tin South Punjab too
did not have ICUs. Serious patients from Muzaffargarh therefore had to be
taken mostly to Multan, if not beyond, for necessary medical care. The
Medical Superintendent, DHQ Muzaffargarh took lead in this regard and
established an ICU with necessary lifesaving equipment and trained staff. It
is now hoped that precious lives would be saved, many of whom were being
lost, more often than not, due to lack of timely, high quality and specialized
medical care previously.

ESTABLISHMENT OF MUZAFFARGARH DIALYSIS SOCIETY
(MDS)

There are around 200 known patients of Chronic Renal Failure in
Muzaffargarh who require dialysis services on regular basis. Even though
majority of these patients are poor and non-affording, in this era of high
inflation and low income/savings, it is not even possible for those coming
from middle and higher strata of the society to afford such an expensive,
demanding and continuing treatment. On the other hand, the District Health
Authority has limited means and resources only, which it has to allocate to
other aspects of health care too. It cannot therefore provide free dialysis
services to all the deserving patients, and that too throughout the year. As a
result, many of the patients either have to spend their assets and savings on
their treatment or leave themselves at the mercy of the disease. Every time
they come to hospital for dialysis, they are uncertain whether they would get
free dialysis service or not; and on many occasions, their worst fears come
true when they are told that the hospital has run out of the budget that had
been reserved for free dialysis and allied expenses. There was thus a need to
provide a sustainable solution by combining the resources of all relevant
government departments as well philanthropic individuals and organizations
from the private sector.

The Muzaffargarh Dialysis Society was established in the district under the
chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner with membership from the District
Health Authority, Social Welfare Department, District Zakat Office, and
Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal. At the same time, as stated above, it had members
from the private sector too. The Society was registered with the Industries
Department, and housed at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ),

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