‘Health Card to be made beneficial in every way’

LAHORE: Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has said health card will be made beneficial for people in every way.

Speaking at a meeting here on Wednesday, the minister said, “We want to bring the real benefits of health card to people. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the universal health insurance programme will be improved.”

A meeting was held in Punjab Health Initiative Management Company under the chairmanship of Khawaja Salman Rafique. He reviewed the measures to further improve health card during the meeting. Punjab Health Initiative Management Company CEO Dr Ali Razzaque gave a briefing on the issue. The minister said that there is a lot of room for improvement in the universal health insurance programme. In another meeting, Salman Rafique said, “Allah has given me an opportunity to work in the health department once again. A rare opportunity to serve the people was provided with Shahbaz Sharif. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz wants to serve the people like her elders.”

The minister said, “If your character is clean, there is no need to be afraid of anyone. If we still do not take care of our beloved country Pakistan and institutions, then a lot of damage will be done. The tradition of self-accountability should be established in every institution. Persons involved in stealing the medicine from different hospitals deserve severe punishment. The government is taking steps to improve emergency services. A state-of-the-art cancer hospital is going to be built in Lahore. Together we will improve the system.”

The minister said that the health department is working for human rights. During the corona virus, our health professionals have performed unprecedented duties. We are going to start a series of visits to government hospitals, he said.

Punjab Health Secretary Ali Jan, Special Secretaries Wajid Ali and Mansoor Ahmed, Additional Secretaries Zahida Azhar, Agha Nabeel and Dr Hafiz Shahid, Vice Chancellor Faisalabad Medical University Professor Dr Zafar Chaudhry, Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Professor Dr Khalid Masood Gondal, Deputy Secretaries attended the meeting and other officers joined through a video link. Secretary Ali Jan Khan said SOPs will be implemented in government hospitals. The plan for the next five years has been presented to the chief minister. Ali Jan said that reforms are necessary to improve the health system. There will be no excuse for theft of medicines in government hospitals, he said.

A meeting in Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology Sargodha was held under the chairmanship of Health Ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique and Khawaja Imran Nazir. The health ministers reviewed the master plan of Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology Sargodha.

Secretary health also gave a briefing. Salman Rafique said that the state-of-the-art Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology is being built for the people of Sargodha. Due to the increase in population, there is scope for many new government hospitals.

Khawaja Imran Nazir said, “We will complete the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology Sargodha on time. We will continuously monitor the progress of the institute.” He said people's money will be used only for the welfare of the people.