Improvement of Public Health Facilities in Ten Districts

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that a comprehensive programme has been devised for the provision of modern public health facilities to the masses. He said that in the first phase of this programme, healthcare facilities will be improved in ten districts of the province and maximum participation of private sector will be ensured in this regard. The Chief Minister gave approval to phase-wise implementation of a comprehensive programme for ensuring public health facilities in the province. He said that work should be carried out expeditiously on this programme and setting up of an independent and autonomous institution for implementing this programme should also be considered.

He was addressing a high level meeting through video link at Civil Secretariat, here today. The Chief Minister said that service to ailing humanity is a form of worship and Punjab government is spending billions of rupees for the betterment of public health services in Punjab. He said that funds will continue to be provided for the improvement of healthcare facilities. He said that participation of private sector in providing quality public health services in ten districts of Punjab is of vital importance and this programme will also be extended to all districts of the province. He said that implementation of this programme will result in provision of modern treatment facilities to the patients in rural and basic health centers as well as Tehsil and district headquarters hospitals The Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to work speedily for the implementation of this programme and the plan evolved for uplift of public health facilities in ten districts within stipulated period be ensured. He said that special attention should be paid to capacity-building with the participation of private sector and a comprehensive mechanism should also be evolved for monitoring of this project. Secretary Health gave a detailed briefing on the measures taken for the improvement of public health facilities in the province. Provincial Minister for Finance Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman, Advisor on Health Kh. Salman Rafiq, Parliamentary Secretary on Health Kh. Imran Nazir, Members Punjab Assembly Rana Sanaullah, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Dr. Nadia Aziz, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development, representative of DFID, concerned secretaries and senior officers attended the meeting.