Punjab Government allotted Rs. one billion for mobile health units for under-developed districts

Lahore: Six health mobile health units (MHUs) are providing diagnostic and treatment facilities to the people of under-developed districts and this experience has been very successful. In view of this, the government has decided to purchase more MHUs and a grant of Rs. one billion has been allocated for this purpose. The government would take final decision in this regard after comparative analysis of imported and locally manufactured mobile health units and Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has constituted a committee consisting of technical experts which would submit its recommendations within 10 days.

It was stated by Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab, Kh. Salman Rafique while presiding over the first meeting of the committee constituted for the purchase of MHUs, at Civil Secretariat today.

Besides Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik, Members Punjab Assembly from Bahawalpur Qazi Adnan Fareed, Amanat Ali Khan Shadekhel from Mianwali, DCO Mianwali, senior officers from Finance and P&D departments, engineers from University of Engineering & Technology Lahore, Director General PCSIR Lahore, Director General Health Punjab and other senior officers of the concerned departments were present. The meeting discussed in detail the third-party evaluation report regarding the working of mobile health units operating in different districts of South Punjab and Mianwali.

The members of Punjab assembly observed that launching of mobile health units was a good decision and these MHUs are providing healthcare to the people of remote areas. They said that especially in the flood affected areas the people have benefitted a lot from this facility. They also presented proposals for further improving the performance of mobile health units. The experts discussed in detail proposals for reducing capital cost of MHUs and their running expenditure. They also reviewed different aspects for modification in the design of MHUs so that these could reach narrow streets and desert areas. The meeting also discussed options to get MHUs manufactured at the local level. Kh. Salman Rafique said that no compromise would be made on the standard and the facilities provided in the MHUs rather these facilities would be enhanced and improved.

The meeting decided to constitute two sub-committees. The technical committee will review the specifications of MHUs and other technical aspects whereas the second sub-committee would formulate recommendations regarding services package.  Secretary Health informed the meeting that government has allocated Rs. one billion for the purchase of mobile health units and the efforts of Health Department is to purchase of maximum MHUs of good quality by utilizing these funds in a efficient manner. He said that option of purchasing locally manufactured long vehicles for MHUs would also be considered.