Shahbaz Sharif visits to hospital constructed by Turkey in Muzaffargarh

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that politics is the name of service to humanity but unfortunately its meanings in Pakistan have been changed. That is why, poor people of the country are facing problems, he added. He said that VIP facilities are available to the elite in the hospitals whereas common man is deprived of treatment. He said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government will change this dual system.

He said this while talking to media-men and addressing a high level meeting after visit to modern hospital constructed by Turkey in Muzaffargarh, today. The Chief Minister also announced to name after the hospital to Turkish Prime Minister Rajib Tayyip Erdogan on the occasion.

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that state-of-the-art hospital is a gift for Pakistan by the people and government of Turkey which is equipped with latest medical facilities and equipments. He said that the machinery and the facilities provided in this hospital are not available in any hospital of Karachi and Lahore. Shahbaz Sharif said that he is pleased to see such a modern hospital in a backward district of South Punjab where Turkey has used the hard earned money of its people with sincerity for providing facilities to the Pakistani people. He lamented that trillions of rupees were spent on tehsil, district and big hospitals for the last 67 years but desired results were not achieved and people are still deprived of treatment facilities. He said that the machinery of the hospitals, constructed with foreign aid have become rusty due to improper look after but best treatment facilities have been provided in the hospital set up with the cooperation of Turkey.

Referring to DHQ Hospital Lodhran, the Chief Minister said that funds were provided for installing modern machinery in the hospital during his previous tenure but after a few months ago when he went to inaugurate this hospital, the machinery covered with clothes was rusty.

A team of Health Department was sent for investigation, which, to cover up this theft, reported that only one machine was old.

Shahbaz Sharif made it clear that the investigation team covering the theft and those committed dacoity on the right of the people through corruption in Lodhran hospital will be awarded deterrent punishment so that no one should dare to plunder the national resources in future. He said that he is happy to see this hospital equipped with best machinery and facilities but at the same time he feels that this is a trust with us from the people and government of Turkey. He said that if we do not take care of this trust, we will be answerable before Almighty Allah on the Day of Judgment. He said that it is our duty to run this hospital with the spirit of service to ailing humanity. He said that this hospital will be run under a Trust and he himself will be the chairman of its Board of Governors.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Dr. Abdul Bari has been given the responsibility of running this hospital who is already providing free treatment facilities to the people at a 150 bed hospital in Karachi. He said that Tayyip Erdogan Hospital will be the first model hospital of Punjab. He made a commitment with the people of South Punjab that all those facilities will be provided to them in this hospital free of cost which are available to elite in big hospitals. He said that a network of such trust hospitals will be laid throughout Punjab. He said that facilities will be provided to the poor people free of cost in Tayyip Erdogan Hospital at par with Agha Khan Hospital Karachi and Shaukat Khanum Hospital Lahore. He said that this hospital will start functioning completely by June 21 where no one will be allowed to do politics but standard of service will be maintained. He said that Punjab government will give annual grant to the hospital. He appealed to the philanthropists to play their due role for running this hospital. He also asked medical specialists of Muzaffargarh to offer their services for the hospital.

Shahbaz Sharif directed the Ministers and Secretaries to visit the field instead of sitting in their offices and at least pay three visits every month so that performance of the departments could be improved and facilities become available to the people.

Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected all departments of the modern hospital constructed by Turkey and inquired about the facilities from the doctors, nurses and paramedical staff of every department. He also visited laboratory, operation theater, ICU, blood bank, orthopedic department, urology department, emergency, kitchen, store, laundry and even washroom and appreciated the existing facilities and cleanliness arrangements. He directed Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board to digitalize the record of all departments of the hospital and all steps should be taken immediately in this regard.

Later, the Chief Minister visited Thatha Sialan affected due to erosion by River Chenab near Muzaffargarh and reviewed the situation. He directed that steps should be taken on emergent basis for controlling the erosion. He said that Commissioner, DCO and other concerned district officials should personally supervise the work. He said that immediate steps should be taken for stopping erosion.

Shahbaz Sharif said that federal government has also given approval to a project for checking erosion and immediate work on it will be started on it. The Chief Minister mingled with the people on the occasion and assured them that Punjab government is taking all necessary steps for resolving their problems. He said in Saraiki language “Kal Tun Kam Shuru Kar Desoon”.