of hepatitis and TB. Till now, 15,000 patients had been provided free medicines at their doorsteps, he said and added the Punjab government would achieve the target of delivering free medicines to 100,000 hepatitis patients by June 2018.
The CM said that in the 70-year history of Pakistan, patients were never given medicines at their doorsteps. He said a programme for establishing modern Hepatitis Filter Clinics was being carried out in districts and 60 small hepatitis clinics had been made functional at the Tehsil level He directed launching a hepatitis awareness campaign.
He said a programme had been started in hospitals to destroy their waste and incinerators were being installed in hospitals. He said a free ambulance service for rural women yielded positive results, so this service was being extended. ISO certification has been attained for five hospitals, he said, adding that Mobile Health Units were providing modern diagnosis and treatment facilities to people residing in remote areas. As many as 14 major Mobile Health Units and 20 small units will be functional soon whereas in the next phase, 85 hospitals would be upgraded. He said the programme of installing CT scan machines in all districts was moving forward. The machines had reached Kasur, Bhakkar, Layyah, Vehari and Mianwali. He said the Drug Testing Lab in Lahore had been set on modern lines. The Punjab Health Management Facilitators Company had also been made functional.
The CM directed steps to enhance the capacity of the Department of Primary and Secondary Healthcare and devise a management course plan for medical superintendents.
Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary Ali Jan Khan told the meeting incinerators to be installed at 13 spots had arrived and the registration of hair salons and beauty parlours was under way to prevent hepatitis.
Provincial Minister of Health Khawaja Imran Nazir, Special Assistant Muhammad Ahmed Khan, the chief secretary, the Planning and Development chairman, the health secretary and other officials attended the meeting.
In his message on the International Child Rights Day, Shahbaz said: “Children are our future and most cherished asset.” He said children should be treated with compassion as today’s children were tomorrow’s architects. If they were given proper education and training from childhood, it would promote confidence in them. He said the Punjab government took measures to eliminate the curse of child labour. Children working at brick kilns were admitted to schools. He said: “On this day, we need to resolve that all sections of society will ensure privileges of kids in Pakistan.”
He also lamented a traffic accident at Kala Shah Kaku. Expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, he prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and directed the administration to give them best medical treatment.