Says hospital services to be streamlined at all costs
LAHORE
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that historical heritage is an asset of a nation and its conservation and maintenance is a collective responsibility. He said that conservation and restoration of historical heritage in its original form promotes tourism and creates awareness in the new generation about its history.
He said the Punjab government was implementing a comprehensive programme for the restoration and upkeep of historical heritage and efforts of Walled City Authority in this regard were commendable.
He was presiding over a meeting of Walled City of Lahore Authority, which reviewed the pace of implementation of the project of conservation and rehabilitation of historical heritage. The chief minister said that Lahore is a historical and cultural centre of Pakistan and there are historical buildings and monuments of Mughal era in the city; there are a number of historical buildings in the Walled City but no attention was paid to their maintenance in the past due to which they have been badly affected, he added.
He said that Walled City of Lahore Authority was set up for conservation of historical heritage in its original form and it had played an effective role in this regard for the conservation and upkeep of the buildings located in the Walled City. He said that restoration of cultural heritage promoted tourism as well as cultural activitiesand it was a matter of satisfaction that under Walled City of Lahore Project, historical buildings from Delhi Gate to Chowk Purani Kotwali had been restored while work had also been started on the second phase of the project from Chowk Kotwali to Masti Gate. He said that besides Lahore, there were a number of historical buildings and sites in Multan, Bhera and other cities and the setting up of the Authority of Punjab Walled Cities for handing over the control of such historical places in other cities to Walled City Authority should also be considered.
He said a plan should be evolved for solid waste management in the Walled City of Lahore as it would improve sanitation system in the Walled City and provide a better atmosphere to the visitors.
The chief minister directed to constitute a committee for resolving various issues of Walled City of Lahore and directed that short, medium and long-term measures should be proposed for this purpose. He directed Director General to arrange cultural activities for Lahorites and visitors in the Walled City such as folk music and Mushaira.
The chief minister appreciated Director General Kamran Lashari and his team for commendable progress on Walled City of Lahore project. He also appreciated the assistance of Aga Khan Heritage Foundation and other institutions regarding restoration of historical heritage.
Director General Walled City of Lahore Kamran Lashari gave a detailed briefing on the project of restoration and conservation of historical heritage in its original form. He apprised the chief minister of various cultural activities in the Walled City.
Meanwhile, 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 said that he would not be content until working of hospitals was streamlined. He said he was paying surprise visits to hospitals to see ground realities. Affairs of hospitals will not go on like this anymore and the authorities concerned will have to show results, he said, adding that resources of billions of rupees allocated for betterment of health sector would not be allowed to waste. He said 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.
He expressed these views while addressing a meeting through a video link on Monday. 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 were being taken for providing better facilities to patients in hospitals and record funds had been allocated in the new budget for public health sector. He said that billions of rupees were being spent every year for providing free-of-cost medicines to patients in hospitals and its benefits should reach the masses.
The chief minister commended the efficiency of District Headquarters Hospital Sheikhupura Medical Superintendent Dr Shehnaz 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 Rs50,000 for her. He also gave her a commendation certificate.
He directed to hand over 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.
He warned DG Health Punjab to further improve his efficiency. He directed commissioners and DCOs to pay visits to hospitals regularly and take steps for improvement and said that he was also paying visits for this purpose. He said there was a need for immediate implementation of short-term measures for the provision of better healthcare to patients in hospitals. He ordered registration of a case against the hospital officials involved in misappropriation of medicines procured for destitute patients and said it was a heinous crime.
He 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 headquarters 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 districts and hospital management concerned would have to work in a professional manner.
He 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.