Shahbaz Sharif inaugurates new emergency block of PIC

Lahore : Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that service to ailing humanity is a form of worship.

He said that those sympathizing with the ailing humanity with hard-earned money are earning the blessings of Allah Almighty in this world and the world hereafter.

He said that the philanthropists have set excellent example of service to the people by setting latest emergency in Punjab Institute of Cardiology and this example will have to be forwarded in every sector.

He expressed these views while addressing inaugural ceremony of modern emergency set up with the cooperation of friends of PIC at Punjab Institute of Cardiology .

The Chief Minister said that government has made a programme of provision of CT scan machines in the hospital of every district of the province and will be operated by the companies that will provide these machines. He said that staff of the hospital will have no concern with these CT scan machines. This step of Punjab government will eliminate heinous trade due to which patients have to suffer in the shape of closer or out of order of machines, provided with billions of rupees of the poor nation, he added.

He said today is a day of pleasure that latest emergency of the world comprising 100-bed has been inaugurated in PIC and soon 100 more beds will be added into it and there will be a total of 200 beds in the emergency.

He congratulated those who provided resources for construction of emergency and put their share in this noble cause. He said that the business community of the country has set an excellent example by establishing emergency equipped with modern facilities through their hard-earned money.

He said that in 1980s, the then Governor Punjab Lt. Gen. (R) Ghulam Gillani Khan and Chief Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif took the responsibility of setting up of Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore. Due to day and night efforts of all, this hospital was set up, he added. He said that the then Chief Executive of the hospital Dr. Shehryar and doctors made it a state-of-the-art institute. Unfortunately, this institution did not make progress due to politics in the institution, he added.

He said that the hospitals should be a source of service to the patients coming for treatment. The business community of Pakistan has rendered a big achievement regarding service to the ailing humanity by setting the latest emergency of the world at PIC and the entire nation has great respect for this high example, he added.

Shahbaz Sharif said that modern angiography lab has also been set up in the emergency and such labs should be constructed throughout Pakistan. He said that Punjab government has provided MRI, CT Scan and Angio-lab at a cost of Rs. 80 crore in PIC and now it is basic responsibility of hospital management to benefit the patients from the latest machinery.

The Chief Minister said it is necessary to reduce rush of patients in big hospitals that the hospitals set up in far-flung areas should be fully activated and presence of medicines and doctors be ensured there. He said that health department will have to play its effective role in this regard. He said that PIC will become referral hospital only when we will activate and improve our hospitals. If we worked hard only then best and latest facilities could be made available in every hospital, he added.

He said that project of provision of CT scan machine in every district of the province is an excellent step of Punjab government and this programme will soon be completed.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab government will bear the expenses of tests of the patients and they will not have to go outside for tests and this work will be completed within next month. He said that the patients will not face difficulties when these machines will become operational and result in facilitating the patients. He said that ensuring provision of quality medical facilities in the hospitals is his mission and no effort will be spared for its accomplishment.

He said that this is a long journey but provincial ministers, secretaries, administration, physicians, surgeons, medical staff and we all have to travel this journey by considering it our duty and he is confident that if we will perform our duty with responsibility then the hospitals will be improved within a few years. He said that if this was not done, then the patients will continue to face difficulties like the past 70 years. He said that government will discharge its responsibility at every cost despite difficulties and challenges. He said that medical facilities will be improved in the hospitals at all costs.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab government provides billions of rupees for the provision of free medicines to the patients and this money is of the poor nation and not property of anyone. He said that this money will be spent for the comfort of humanity.

He said that Punjab government centralized the system of procurement of medicines last year and an agreement was also signed in this regard but it was not implemented in every district of the province, upon which, he took strict notice and action is being taken against more than 600 DDOs. They have been suspended and audit of all affairs conducted, he added.

The Chief Minister said that Allah Almighty has blessed Pakistan with all kinds of resources, we have talented persons, best doctors and health experts and there is no shortage of resources but only lack of commitment. He said that the system will become correct if we perform our duties with sincerity and obey the orders of Allah Almighty. He said that companies providing medicines have been prequalified and samples of their medicines will be get analyzed from best laboratories of the world so that equal medicines should be available to all. He said it is unjustified that elite, politicians, judges and officers have one kind of medicines but the poor of other kind. This will not be allowed, he added.

Shahbaz Sharif once again thanked those who took part in this noble cause of constructing latest emergency in PIC.

Chief Executive Officer PIC Prof. Nadeem Hayat Malik while presenting address of welcome said that the best cardiac emergency of the world has been set up and the cooperation of philanthropists in its construction is appreciable besides setting up of emergency reflects the vision of Shehbaz Sharif.

Referring to provision of medical facilities in PIC, he said that this is the only institution of the country which provides treatment facilities to the cardiac patients.

Chairman friends of PIC Aamir Fayyaz Sheikh said that today is a an important day when a big emergency center of the country was inaugurated where world standard medical facilities are being provided.

Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated the newly constructed emergency in PIC and inspected emergency wards and medical facilities being provided to the patients. He also inquired after the patients under treatment in the wards.

At the end of the ceremony, the Chief Minister distributed shields among the philanthropists taking part in this noble cause. Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Advisor Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, Chairman APTMA Aamir Fayyaz Sheikh, Khawaja Ahmed Hasaan, Provincial Ministers, Secretary Health, Members Assembly, doctors and friends of PIC were also present on the occasion.