‘Fresh strategy on health reforms needed’

LAHORE: Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique on Wednesday said that out-of-box solutions have to be found to improve the health insurance programme. The provincial health minister also directed a full audit of the health insurance programme. In the past, there have been many shortcomings in the health insurance programme, he added. The minister stated this while addressing the first meeting of the working group of health insurance programme. The meeting was held in the Department of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education under the chairmanship of Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique.Dr Muhammad Adnan Khan, Secretary Health Punjab Ali Jan Khan, Special Secretary Syed Wajid Ali. Shah, Muhammad Usman from P&D, DG Health Services Dr Ilyas Gondal, PD PMU Mian Tariq, CEO Punjab Health Initiative Management Company Dr Ali Razzaq, CEO PHFMC Dr Asim Altaf and others participated. Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique reviewed the reforms for further improvement in health insurance programme. Secretary Health Ali Jan Khan and CEO PHIMC Dr Ali Razaq gave a briefing in this regard.

Kh Salman Rafique said that the CM wanted to improve the health insurance programme. The health insurance programme was the brainchild of Nawaz Sharif. Providing free health facilities to the people of Punjab was his first thought and implemented by Nawaz Sharif. We want to convey the results of the health insurance programme to the common people. The final recommendations for further improvement in the health insurance programme will be submitted to the chief minister soon.

Meanwhile, Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique visited the head offices of Institute of Blood Transfusion Service Punjab. On this occasion, Additional Secretary Technical Department of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Dr Hafiz Shahid Latif, Director Prof Dr Shabnam Bashir and Secretary Dr Imran Bashir presented a bouquet to the minister.

The minister visited the Thalassemia Centre and inquired after the children. Dr Imran Bashir gave a briefing on the facilities provided to patients in blood banks across the province.

The health minister while directing to solve the problems of Institute of Blood Transfusion and Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority on priority basis said that there was a need to increase the capacity of Institute of Blood Transfusion. Strict departmental action will be taken if records are not made in blood banks. We will solve HR problems in the institute. Supply of clean blood in blood banks is the basic right of every patient. We want to run the blood banks in the government hospitals of Punjab according to modern technology. He further said that we have committed to transfer the blood test to Kalya technology by the end of 2024. Currently, 1,293 blood banks are registered across Punjab while 461 blood banks are licenced.