Training course for dispensers of Prisons Department concludes

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that provision of health facilities to the people is the prime responsibility of the government and the results of health sector reforms under Chief Minister’s Health Roadmap are very encouraging. He said that patients load would be minimized in tertiary hospitals by strengthening and upgradation of primary as well as secondary healthcare system.

He said this while addressing the closing ceremony of mandatory training course for dispensers of Prisons Department at Provincial Health Development Centre, here today.

Director General Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, IG Prisons Mian Farooq Nazir, Director PHDC Dr. Sohail Saqlain, training staff, participants of the course and officers of Health Department were present in the function.

Dr. Sohail Saqlain informed that dispensers of Prisons Department have to attend a mandatory training course for promotion in Grade-14 as Nursing Assistant. For this purpose, PHDC offered its services to conduct capacity-building training course for the dispensers and Director General Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz coordinated with IG Prisons in this regard.

Kh. Salman Rafique said that the doctors and paramedics serving in Prisons Department are helping the Punjab Health Department as provision of health facilities to the general public as well as to the prisoners is equally important for the department. He said that it is our legal, moral and humanitarian responsibility to take care of the inmates of the jails because they are dependent on the staff of the jails.

Kh. Salman Rafique said that training and refresher courses enhance the confidence and capacity of the staff. He appreciated the managerial and administrative qualities of Director PHDC Dr. Sohail Saqlain who has prepared a number of training courses for the health managers and allied health personnel. He said that health sector is improving fast under the guidance of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Punjab province will soon compete with the regional countries in improving health indicators. He said that by the end of the current year Health Department would provide doctors at every BHU. He said that presently 60 percent BHUs have been provided medical officers. He said that present government promoted and created thousands of vacancies of nurses who were waiting for their promotion for the last many decades.

Kh. Salman Rafique said that government has introduced attractive pay package for the doctors. He said the only objective of the government and the doctors should be the welfare of the patients. He said that the main purpose of all kinds of reforms is to provide best health facilities to the common man. DG Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz assured IG Prisons all kind of support and technical assistance for improving the health of the prisoners.

IG Prisons Mian Farooq Nazir also spoke on the occasion and apprised about the health facilities being provided to the inmates. He said that latest diagnostic equipments and machinery has been installed in the medical units of the prisons and healthcare facilities are being provided to the inmates.