Rs15bn to be spent on 28 hospitals’ upgrade in Punjab

LAHORE: On the instructions of Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the health department has prepared a plan for the improvement of public health facilities, proposing to spend Rs15 billion on the infrastructure and provision of medical equipment in 28 major hospitals across the province.

During a meeting held at the Civil Secretariat on Monday, the officials of the Health Department briefed Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman regarding the implementation of the plan.

The meeting reviewed measures to improve healthcare in public hospitals and decided to hand over the parking of Lahore’s all government-run hospitals to the Lahore Parking Company (LPC).

The chief secretary said that providing the best health and education facilities to the people is the government’s priority. He said that under the health insurance programme, best healthcare should be provided to eligible patients, adding that quality of facilities should inspire patients to opt for medical treatment in the public health facilities. He asked the deputy commissioners to pay special attention on improving the health and education sectors in districts.

The chief secretary appreciated Deputy Commissioner Khanewal Waseem Hamid Sindhu for getting ISO certification for DHQ hospital. He ordered that the deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners as heads of district and tehsil health councils should perform their duties in an active manner and ensure 100 percent attendance of doctors and staff in hospitals.

Health Secretary Ali Jan gave a detailed briefing at the meeting. He said that the revamping of DHQ and THQ hospitals would be completed by December. He mentioned that a digital record of patients is being maintained in all basic health units (BHUs).