Doctors belong to a sacred profession:CM Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that doctors belong to a sacred profession, and they should serve the ailing humanity as messiahs. He said that doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff played a highly praiseworthy role last year in combating dengue virus and, as a result of their indefatigable efforts, hundreds of precious lives were saved. The Chief Minister said that provision of best possible health-related facilities is the top priority of the Punjab government and for this purpose emoluments of personnel, belonging to health sectors, had been increased. However, the Chief Minister pointed out, there should be an equilibrium between rights and duties and, instead of going on strikes, the doctors’ community should serve the ailing humanity by providing them best medical care.

He was talking to a delegation of doctors at Tent Office, Minar-e-Pakistan, here today. Special Assistant Kh. Salman Rafique, Members Provincial Assembly Dr. Asad Ashraf and Secretary Health Capt. (R) Arif Nadeem were also present on the occasion. The Chief Minister said that uplift of the healthcare system and promotion of health sector are top priorities of Punjab government, and all available resources are being utilized for this purpose. He said it is duty of personnel associated with the health sector to provide quality healthcare to the patients. He said the Punjab government is spending billions of rupees for provision of free of cost medicines to the poor segment of the society in government hospitals, and this process will continue in future as well. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that Healthcare Commission has been set up to streamline healthcare facilities, which will be utilized for the general public to the full extent. Chief Minister noted that, as a result of agonizing loadshedding, the whole nation is undergoing a painful experience from Peshawar to Karachi. He pointed out that the energy crisis has severely affected all sectors of life including health, education, agriculture and industry. He called upon doctors to work for the ailing humanity in these dire conditions whole-heartedly, instead of resorting to unnecessary strikes. He said improvement of healthcare system is the joint responsibility of the government and the doctors, and stressed that the health sector would be further improved in the light of proposals and suggestions submitted by those working in the health sector.

Commenting upon the current energy crisis, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif noted that worst loadshedding in the country’s history has brought the national economy on the verge of disaster. He pointed out that, as a result of mismanagement by the federal government, bungling of billions of rupees is being made in electricity and gas sectors. He said the livelihood of common man is severely affected by the corruption and wrong policies of rulers of Islamabad, due to which people are strongly protesting over cruel loadshedding. He said that all federating units have to share each others’ joys and sorrow, however an unjust attitude is being shown to Punjab regarding loadshedding. He said the people have given us opportunity to serve them, therefore, protection of their right is our sole responsibility. Chief Minister said that one can not realize the true extent of pain and difficulties being faced by the common man by staying in air-conditioned rooms and palaces, which is why we have established a Tent Office at Minar-e-Pakistan to express our solidarity with the common man. Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that if the federal rulers end their loot and plunder and profligacy and provide funds for the payment of circular debt, the energy crisis could be resolved overnight.

Expressing their views on the occasion, doctors’ delegation pointed out that they, too have been encouraged and incentivized by seeing Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif working day and night for the welfare of the people of the province. They said that they had also seen this spirit during the outbreak of dengue. They said they are determined to combat dengue virus, under the dynamic leadership of Punjab government. Doctors also apprised Chief Minister about health facilities and the problems being faced by them.