Punjab Chief Minister, Sardar Usman Buzdar, on Wednesday, noted that the provision of better healthcare, especially to the deserving segments remained a top priority of his government.
He said this during a meeting held at his office to review the performance of the health sector where he also ordered the ministers and provincial assembly members to visit hospitals and recommend initiatives to improve healthcare facilities. He also asked them to ensure the provision of medicines at all the government hospitals across the province.
The chief minister further added that an air ambulance service project was being launched to shift critically ill patients to other hospitals in due time. He also talked of plans to open doors of a 100-bed hospital in Punjab Institute of Mental Health to treat addicts, while residences for doctors in Bahawalnagar district would also be constructed timely.
The concerned authorities were directed to activate Fatima Jinnah Institute of Dental Sciences along with establishing standard private rooms in government hospitals.
He also apprised the audience of plans to soon introducing several laws, including the medical teaching institution act.
“Students from tribal areas would be able to take admission in medical colleges on reserved seats,” he added.
‘Burdening the poor is unacceptable’CM Buzdar
The meeting deliberated upon the proposal of increasing the duration of employment of medical teaching faculty, starting nightshifts in nursing schools and the recruitment of male nurses.
The Chief Minister then directed the authorities to review the previous decision to charge a uniform fee for medical tests in government hospitals.
“Burdening the poor is not acceptable to me,” he claimed
It is the responsibility of the state to provide the best healthcare facilities to the needy patients free-of-cost, he added.
He expressed satisfaction over transparency in the recruitment of doctors, nurses and other medical staff and the improvements visible in the health sector.
He maintained that he was happy with the quality of healthcare facilities being provided to the deserving through Sehat Sahulat Program.
Also present on the occasion, Health Minister, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, asserted that the health department would provide 30, 000 anti-rabies vaccines, half of which would be sent to South Punjab.
Provincial Health Advisor, Muhammad Hanif Pitafi, CM Punjab Spokesman Shahbaz Gil, several assistant commissioners, and secretaries were also present during the meeting.
Published in Daily Times, February 28th 2019.
