Punjab govt decides to outsource rural health centres
Pakistan
The CM was briefed that revamp of 766 out of 1,047 rural centres was complete
LAHORE (Dunya News) - The Punjab government on Thursday decided in principle to outsource the rural health centres in the province.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz presided over a meeting in which important decisions were taken regarding the health sector.
The chief minister was briefed on the health sector reforms.
The meeting informed that the patient ratio had increased three times in the rural centres, which were being administered by the young doctors. As many as 225 RHC have been revamped. It was further revealed that the rural centres would be turned into first referral centres.
The CM was briefed that revamp of 766 out of 1,047 rural centres was also completed, out of which 396 had been handed over to the health department.
A staggering Rs6.7 billion worth of medicines had been provided to the OPDs in Punjab, the participants learnt.
"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 Sept 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 centres, and children's wards at the district level. Additionally, the proposal to set up a mega medical city along Lahore's Ring Road is being considered.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister stated that the goal was to bring 100pc improvement in Punjab's government hospitals. She expressed deep concern and distress over a 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 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.
