Better healthcare govt’s top priority: Mamnoon

MULTAN: President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday said the federal and provincial governments were focusing on providing better healthcare facilities to the people at their doorstep.

Inaugurating Bakhtawar Ameen Medical and Dental College at Matti Tal, a suburban area of the city, Mamnoon said ensuring provision of healthcare facilities to the people particularly in far-flung areas, was a gigantic task. However, the government was determined and very much committed to upgrading the healthcare system.

He urged all segments of society and philanthropists to join hands to supplement the government efforts and stressed the need to raise awareness against contagious diseases.The president asked the medical colleges to promote the culture of research and enhance collaboration with other institutions to introduce best practices in their institutions. Education was the only solution to the modern-day challenges, he added.

Prof Dr Shabbir Nasir – chairman of the Bakhtawar Amin Trust Hospital, said 12 acres of land had been purchased and a renowned architect was engaged to design a 500-bed hospital. The hospital would consist of seven blocks – out-patient, emergency, diagnostic, medical, surgical, mother and child care and services. Total cost of land procurement, construction, medical and diagnostic equipment has so far been Rs 188 million.

At present, the hospital consists of 70 beds with the latest amenities. The hospital has become functional and providing services in various departments including general and plastic surgery, pathology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, paediatrics and ENT.

Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Governor Malik Rafiq Rajwana said provision of quality healthcare, safe drinking water and education in southern Punjab were the top most priorities of the government. He said efforts were under way to establish new hospitals as well as to renovate and upgrade available hospitals and overcoming doctors’ deficiency across the province. He appreciated private sector for serving in health sector along side-by-side the government.

During the day, the president also met a delegation of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) at the Circuit House. The delegation apprised the president about the problems confronted by the investors, manufacturers, exporters and industrialists.

The president, on the occasion said, the day was no far off when there would be prosperity and economic stability.Meanwhile, an injured patient failed to enter Multan’s Nishtar Hospital owing to security protocol of the president. The 22-year-old boy, Ghulam Yasin, of Sultan Colony Muzaffaragarh operated his jawbone (fractured in an accident) at Multan Dental Hospital and College near Multan Circuit House. He was referred to the Nishtar Hospital ICU for further treatment but all the roads were closed because of the president’s movement.

After failing to get admit in Nishtar Hospital, he returned back to the Dental Hospital but again he denied entry due to the closed roads, forcing the attendants place the boy on footpath. Finally after one-and-half hour, the family members had to make him walk to the hospital.