Pager system replaces mobile phones in Punjab hospitals

LAHORE: The Punjab government has banned the use of mobile phones by hospital staff below BPS-18 grade during duty hours across all public sector hospitals in the province, while mandating the use of pagers for emergency communication.

The decision, outlined in two separate circulars issued on July 7, 2025, by the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department, aims to strengthen emergency response mechanisms and enhance patient care in government-run medical facilities.

The first circular directs all healthcare institutions to implement a pager system to ensure rapid and uninterrupted communication during critical situations.

“Pagers help to ensure that critical alerts—such as Code Blue and Code Red—are promptly received and responded to,” it reads. All hospitals under the department’s jurisdiction have been instructed to ensure strict compliance.

Meanwhile, the second directive bans the use of mobile phones during duty hours by all hospital staff below BPS-18 in emergencies, ICUs, NICUs, and operation theatres.

Exceptions will apply to senior administrative officers such as Medical Superintendents, Additional and Deputy Medical Superintendents, Senior Registrars, and Directors. The directive warns that the frequent and unnecessary use of mobile phones was disrupting patient care and hospital operations.

Medical superintendents and heads of departments have been tasked with enforcing the ban, monitoring staff behaviour, and submitting compliance reports within three days.

In addition, the circulars stress the need to ensure a robust and responsive emergency care system and mandate adherence to SOPs by nursing students, particularly in procedures such as IV injections.

The directives have been circulated to all public sector medical universities, colleges, specialised institutes, and teaching hospitals in Punjab. Copies have also been forwarded to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Secretary of Health, and relevant department heads.