CM Punjab notice the shortage of Doctors in under develope areas

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has given approval to the steps for removing shortage of doctors and providing best medical facilities at rural & basic health centers in far-flung areas of the province under which, decision has been made for giving relaxation in age limit for recruitment of doctors in these centers. The same procedure will be adopted for the recruitment of consultants, he added.

The Chief Minister also accorded approval to setting up of bio-medical workshop in South Punjab and constitution of health councils in hospitals and rural and basic health centers. He accorded this approval while presiding over a meeting held to review progress of reformation programme continuing for the betterment of health sector, here today.

The meeting reviewed various matters including provision of quality medical facilities to the people, removing shortage of doctors, provision of free medicines and transparency of process of procurement.

Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that provision of best medical facilities to the people is top priority of the government and a comprehensive strategy is being evolved for this purpose. He said that like big cities, people of far-flung areas have also right over modern medical facilities and decision has taken for important steps for removing shortage of doctors in rural & basic health centers so that medical facilities could be provided to the common man at his doorstep.

The Chief Minister said that instructions have been issued for the improvement of cleanliness arrangements in the hospitals along with provision of medical facilities and removal of shortage of doctors. He said that cleanliness system should be outsourced in this regard so that best system of hygiene can be evolved. He said that provision of free medicines to the masses is a revolutionary step of Punjab government. He said that decision has also be taken to introduce centralized procurement system for making process of supply and availability of medicines transparent.

Shehbaz Sharif directed to introduce a check and balance system for making this process comprehensive so that element of corruption could be avoided in the procurement of medicines. He directed completion of audit process of machinery and equipments in the hospitals of the province at the earliest and added that process of biomedical workshop should be completed as soon as possible.

He said that immediate steps should be taken for making Punjab Rural Support Programme as an active and vibrant institution. He also directed setting up of biomedical workshop and constitution of health councils in rural & basic health centers in South Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that reformation programme continuing in health sector is of paramount important which is directly linked to health of the masses. He said that work should be done with national spirit and responsibility for forwarding this programme.

Provincial Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Advisor on Health Kh. Salman Rafique, Parliamentary Secretary Kh. Imran Nazir, concerned secretaries and senior officials attended the meeting whereas Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary participated the meeting through video link from Civil Secretariat.