Essential drugs should be ensured at BHU’s:Kh Salman

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that strict monitoring policy is required for improving and strengthening the primary healthcare system in Punjab. He said that presence of doctors and availability of essential drugs should be ensured for providing healthcare to the people of remote areas.

He said this while presiding over a meeting regarding reforms into the Primary Healthcare System, here today. Secretary Health Babar Hayat Tarar, DG Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, Additional DG Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illnesses. (IMNCI), Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Director Mother Neonatal & Child Health (MNCH), Dr. Zafar Ikram, Director Health EPI, Dr. Munir Ahmed, Director Lady Health Worker Program Dr. Javed Omer and other officers attended the meeting. Director Health Sector Reforms Program Dr. Akhtar Rasheed Malik gave presentation on the Primary Healthcare System.

Kh. Salman Rafiq directed the Secretary Health that EDOs, DOs and DDOs Health should be made responsible for monitoring of the hospitals and health centers at district level and they should be accountable for the performance of their sub-ordinates. He further directed that at provincial level, Secretary Health and DG Health should monitor the performance of EDOs Health. He said that there should be a system for reward and punishment to improve the performance.

Kh. Salman Rafiq said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has given a clear cut policy and there would be no compromise on merit to provide best healthcare facilities to the people. He said that Health Department has constituted a search committee for the posting of EDOs Health at district level and medical superintendents in public sector hospitals and, the committee is performing well. He said that now the only officers who believe in professionalism and serving the masses would be posted on these key posts. He said that there is no space in the system for lethargic and careless officers. He further directed that the process of procurement of medicines at district level should be strictly monitored and only those essential drugs should be procured, after completion of legal process, which are on the list of essential drugs.