LAHORE: The Provincial Government of Punjab has decided in principle to outsource the rural health centers in the province.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in a meeting held to take some important decisions regarding the provision of better medical health facilities to people of the province.
During the meeting Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was briefed on the health sector reforms.
The meeting informed that the patient ratio had increased three times in the rural centers which were being administered by the young doctors, with 225 RHC revamped. It was further revealed that the rural centers would be turned into first referral centers.
The CM was briefed that revamp of 766 out of 1047 rural centers was also completed, out of which 396 had been handed over to the health department.
A staggering Rs 6.7 billion worth of medicines had been provided to the OPDs in Punjab, the meeting further told.
“Maryam Nawaz Community Health Inspector Programme had received 12,671 applications. As many as 6,900 patients had been registered while 2,625 patients had been treated under the Chief Minister Children Heart Surgery Programme. As many as 8,000 patients had gone through their dialysis under the Chief Minister Dialysis Programme while 7.2 million people had benefited from the Clinic on Wheels,” the meeting added.
During the meeting, the CM directed the construction and expansion of link roads for Murree’s Sambli General Hospital, ordered the activation of Jinnah Hospital PIC II by September 30, and instructed the operationalisation of the outpatient department (OPD) at Nawaz Sharif Institute in Sargodha by June. She also mandated the timely activation of the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital Lahore.
The meeting reviewed a proposal to establish medical cities at the divisional level for the treatment of various diseases. It was agreed to establish burn units, cardiac centers, and children’s wards at the district level. Additionally, the proposal to set up a mega medical city along Lahore’s Ring Road was considered.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz revealed that the goal is to bring 100pc improvement in Punjab’s government hospitals. She expressed deep concern and distress over the lack of proper cleanliness in hospitals and emphasised the need for state-of-the-art medical facilities for people in underprivileged and remote areas.
She further added that modern medical equipment was being provided in phases to all hospitals in Punjab as per their needs, with sustainable measures being taken to address the shortage of doctors and staff.
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