Introduction
Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), located in Peshawar, Pakistan, is one of the most prominent tertiary care hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Established in 1992, HMC plays a pivotal role in delivering advanced healthcare services, medical education, and research. Strategically positioned in the Hayatabad suburb, HMC caters to a vast population from KP, the merged tribal districts (formerly FATA), and even patients from neighboring Afghanistan.
Historical Background
The development of HMC was initiated in the late 1980s with the goal of easing the burden on Lady Reading Hospital, the oldest and largest hospital in Peshawar. Officially inaugurated in 1992, HMC began operations as a general hospital and evolved into a full-fledged teaching and tertiary care facility. Over the decades, it has expanded in scope and size, now offering specialized services across multiple departments
Infrastructure and Facilities
HMC spans a large area and includes multiple blocks, departments, and facilities, such as:
- Emergency Department: A 24/7 fully equipped unit handling trauma, cardiac emergencies, strokes, and poisoning cases.
- Outpatient Department (OPD): Daily services across specialties like medicine, surgery, pediatrics, dermatology, and more.
- Inpatient Wards: Medical, surgical, ICU, CCU, and gynecology wards with modern patient-care amenities.
- Diagnostic Services: State-of-the-art laboratory, radiology (including MRI, CT scan, and ultrasound), and pathology labs.
Specialized Departments and Services
HMC is home to a wide range of specialized departments including:
- Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery: Offering both diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures.
- Neurosurgery and Neurology: Performing advanced spinal and cranial surgeries.
- Orthopedics: Specializing in trauma and joint replacement surgeries.
- Oncology Unit: Partnered with IRNUM for cancer diagnostics and chemotherapy.
- Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit: One of the few dedicated units in the province.
- Dialysis Center: Providing renal replacement therapy for patients with chronic kidney disease.
Role in Medical Education
HMC serves as a teaching hospital for Khyber Girls Medical College (KGMC) and Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI). It provides clinical training to undergraduate and postgraduate students in medicine, surgery, and allied health sciences. Numerous postgraduate residency programs are recognized by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP).
Research and Academic Contributions
HMC is also an active center for clinical research, contributing significantly to publications in medical journals and presentations at national and international conferences. Research areas include public health, infectious diseases, surgery outcomes, and emerging non-communicable diseases.
Public Health Impact
As a government-funded hospital, HMC plays a crucial role in providing free or low-cost healthcare to economically disadvantaged populations. It also supports health awareness programs, vaccination campaigns, and disease screening drives, such as for tuberculosis, hepatitis, and breast cancer.
COVID-19 Response
During the COVID-19 pandemic, HMC emerged as a frontline institution, setting up a dedicated COVID-19 ward, high dependency units (HDU), and ICU beds. It contributed to testing, isolation, treatment, and vaccination efforts in the province, showing its capacity to respond to public health crises.
Challenges and Limitations
Despite its contributions, HMC faces several challenges:
- Overcrowding: A high patient load often leads to extended waiting times.
- Resource Constraints: Limited budget impacts availability of medicines and staffing.
- Infrastructure Maintenance: Aging infrastructure and medical equipment require regular upgrades.
Recent Developments
The KP government has made several upgrades in recent years, including:
- Expansion of the emergency department
- Installation of modern radiology equipment
- Integration with Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) for improved digital record-keeping
- Plans for a cancer hospital and organ transplant center in collaboration with national partners
Conclusion
Hayatabad Medical Complex stands as a cornerstone of healthcare in the KP region. Its evolution from a general hospital to a tertiary-level medical institution reflects Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to improve public health infrastructure. With continued investment in technology, human resources, and medical education, HMC is poised to become a regional center of excellence in healthcare and medical training.
References
- Hayatabad Medical Complex Official Website – http://www.hmckp.gov.pk/
- Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department – https://healthkp.gov.pk/
- Khyber Girls Medical College (KGMC) – http://www.kgmc.edu.pk/
- Postgraduate Medical Institute Peshawar – http://www.pgmi.edu.pk/
- College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) – https://www.cpsp.edu.pk/
- Khan, A. et al. (2021). “Preparedness of Tertiary Care Hospitals in KP During COVID-19.” Pakistan Journal of Public Health, 11(3), 123-129.
- Shah, S. et al. (2020). “Healthcare Burden and Referral Patterns in Tertiary Hospitals.” Journal of Ayub Medical College, 32(4), 456-460.
- Rehman, M. et al. (2018). “Utilization of Emergency Departments in KP: A Cross-sectional Study.” Khyber Medical University Journal, 10(2), 98-104.
- Afridi, F. et al. (2017). “Challenges in Public Sector Hospitals: The Case of HMC.” Peshawar Medical College Journal, 6(1), 55-60.
Hayatabad Medical Complex Annual Report 2023 (Internal Document, available upon request).
