Shahbaz Sharif vows to mend health system,announce reward for lady Dr Shenaz Naseem

Lahore  : Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that he has taken up the task of ensuring best treatment facilities to the patients in hospitals and people will see the results within a year.

He expressed these views while addressing a meeting through video link today. The meeting considered steps for improvement of medical facilities for the patients in the light of the facts revealed during the visits of the chief minister to various hospitals.

Shahbaz Sharif said that all out measures are being taken for providing better facilities to patients in hospitals and record funds have been allocated in the new budget for public health sector. He said that billions of rupees are being spent every year for providing free of cost medicines to patients in hospitals and its benefits should reach the masses.

He said that he would not be content until working of hospitals is streamlined. He said that he is paying surprise visits to hospitals to see ground realities. He said that affairs of hospitals will not go on like this anymore and authorities concerned will have to show results. He said that resources of billions of rupees allocated for betterment of health sector would not be allowed to go to waste. He said that those showing good performance with regard to provision of better treatment facilities to the masses would be encouraged while those not performing their duties efficiently would be removed.

The Chief Minister commended the efficiency of Medical Superintendent District Headquarters Hospital Sheikhupura Dr. Shenaz Naseem who took the initiative on her own with regard to timely procurement of necessary medicines for the patients and announced a cash award of Rs. fifty thousand for her. He also gave her a commendatory certificate.

The Chief Minister directed to handover the services of DCO to federal government for not ensuring proper medical facilities to patients in District Headquarters Hospital Nankana Sahib. He also ordered immediate suspension of EDO Health Sheikhupura, MS DHQ Hospital Nankana and EDO Health Sheikhupura besides issuing a warning to DCO Sheikhupura for not taking interest in hospital affairs.

Similarly, he warned DG Health Punjab to further improve his efficiency. Shahbaz Sharif directed Commissioners and DCOs to pay visits to hospitals regularly and take steps for improvement and said that he is also paying visits for this purpose. He said that there is a need for immediate implementation of short term measures for the provision of better healthcare to patients in hospitals. He also ordered registration of a case against the hospital officials involved in misappropriation of medicines procured for destitute patients and said that it is a heinous crime.

Shahbaz Sharif said that criminal action should be taken against the elements involved and they should immediately be arrested. He directed that a mechanism should be evolved for the shifting of patients suffering from complicated diseases from tehsil and districts headquarter hospitals to the hospitals of big cities.

He said that minor problems with regard to hospital management should be resolved immediately and administrative officers of the concerned districts and hospital management will have to work in a professional manner. He further directed that there should be proper arrangements for repair and maintenance of air-conditioners and generators of hospitals and a procedure should be evolved for this purpose and its complete implementation should be ensured.

Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Chairman Chief Minister’s Inspection Team, Secretary Specialized Health & Medical Education, Secretary Primary and Secondary Health, Commissioner Lahore Division and senior officers attended the meeting from Civil Secretariat. Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique participated in the meeting from Narowal, DCO Kasur, EDO Health and MS District Headquarters Hospital Kasur from DCO Office while DCO Sheikhupura, EDO Health and MS District Headquarters Hospital Sheikhupura from the office of DCO Sheikhupura through video link.