Shahbaz for authentic system to purchase medicines

LAHORE

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed that the entire system of purchase, supply and distribution of medicines should be standardised. He said that service to ailing humanity is a form of worship and there is a need to evolve a reliable and authentic system for procurement of medicines. 

He presided over a meeting here Friday which reviewed in detail the process of procurement, supply and distribution of medicines provided free-of-cost to the patients in government hospitals as well as rural and basic health centres.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said the government was providing free-of-cost medicines worth billions of rupees to the patients in public sector hospitals every year and it was the prime responsibility of authorities concerned to make the process of purchase, supply and distribution of medicines completely transparent. He said that patients should not have to face any difficulty in acquiring these medicines. He said the process of purchase, supply and distribution should be made comprehensive and effective. He said that failure to place orders timely for the procurement of medicines was negligence and intolerable.

He directed that the entire system of purchase, supply and distribution of medicines should be standardised. He said that service to ailing humanity is a form of worship and there was a need to evolve a reliable and authentic system for procurement of medicines. Provincial Minister for Finance Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Chief Secretary and authorities concerned attended the meeting in Model Town while Adviser on Health Kh Salman Rafiq, Additional Chief Secretary, King Edward Medical University Vice-Chancellor, Secretary Specialised Health and Medical Education, Secretary Primary and Secondary Health and officers concerned participated in the meeting from Civil Secretariat through a video link.

Nisar: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, here Friday. Situation in the country, law and order and security issues were discussed in the meeting.

The interior minister also talked to the chief minister about the making of the alleged video relating to MQM in Adiala Jail and said that federal government had constituted a committee headed by secretary interior to probe the matter and submit its report. The chief minister also took notice of the alleged video and directed Home Secretary Punjab to conduct an inquiry. 

The meeting also decided that federal and provincial governments would announce future strategy in the light of the inquiry report regarding the alleged video.

Clean water: Shahbaz Sharif has said that provision of clean drinking water to the citizens is essential for setting up a healthy society and added that government is implementing a mega project in this regard.

He was presiding over a meeting to review the pace of clean drinking water project. The meeting took a number of important decisions for the speedy implementation of the project. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that potable water was the basic right of every citizen. He said that the government would ensure availability of clean drinking water to every citizen within a few years.

He directed that potable water project be accelerated and warned that no negligence would be tolerated in the implementation of this public welfare project.

He said that people could be saved from different diseases through supply of safe drinking water. He said that Pakistan was a poor country and it was the responsibility of the government to adopt austerity and evolve the best projects. He said that resources were a trust of the nation and transparent utilisation of every penny of public money was being ensured. He said that an example of transparency and austerity had been set by saving billions of rupees in the implementation of mega projects. He said there would be no shortage of resources for important projects like supply of potable water. He said that modern technology should be utilised for the development of the country and with the assistance of consultants such a technology should be used for ensuring uninterrupted supply of drinking water to the masses under Saaf Pani Project.

He said the Punjab government was spending billions of rupees for the provision of basic amenities to the citizens and provision of potable water was very important. He said  work was in progress speedily on development projects and completion of these projects would not only raise the living standard of the masses but execution of energy projects would eliminate loadshedding from the country and the industrial process would continue smoothly. 

The chief minister issued instructions for setting up a committee to submit its recommendations within next few days for speedy implementation of Saaf Pani Project.