The GDA Pak-China Friendship Hospital has treated more than 325,900 patients since its inauguration in May 2024, according to hospital data. Staff marked World Pharmacists Day this week with a ceremony highlighting the role of medicine supply in Gwadar’s largest public health facility, according to a report carried by Gwadar Pro.

From August 2024 to August 2025, the hospital provided free treatment to 325,907 patients across departments. In August 2025 alone, staff handled 22,568 patients, dispensing 468,829 outpatient medicines and 38,019 medicines to admitted patients. All inpatients also received free meals, the hospital said.

The Pharmacy Department, which manages nearly half a million medicines in stock, was at the center of the World Pharmacists Day event under the theme “Think Health, Think Pharmacist.” Hospital leaders praised the department for ensuring uninterrupted medicine supply despite rising demand.

“Pharmacists are not just distributors of medicine; they are advisors and guides for both doctors and patients,” said Dr. Affan Faiq Zada, head of campus.

Family Medicine and General OPD recorded the highest patient load with 130,803 visits, followed by pediatrics (54,907) and gynecology (34,071). The hospital also performed 2,601 deliveries, described as critical for a region with limited maternal care.

Other departments saw steady growth: Internal Medicine treated 13,180 patients; Dental OPD, 12,291; General Surgery, 11,025 consultations and 581 operations; Orthopedics, 10,509 visits and 475 surgeries; Urology and Nephrology, 6,086 cases and 64 surgeries. The emergency unit treated 40,698 patients, while imaging facilities conducted 604 CT scans alongside hundreds of ultrasounds and X-rays.

Pharmacy in-charge Hina Abdul Rahman said the department’s achievements were the result of teamwork. At the close of the ceremony, pharmacists received certificates, and the hospital launched a public awareness campaign on the dangers of self-medication.

Opened just 16 months ago under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, the hospital has quickly become a key institution in Gwadar, offering free, multi-specialty care. Officials said the expansion of maternal and child health services marks a milestone for the port city and its surrounding areas.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China