Improvement of health sector among top priorities: minister

LAHORE:Provincial Minister of Health and Emergency Services Punjab Khawaja Salman Rafique said that improvement of the health sector is among the top priorities of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. All the Vice Chancellors, Principals and MS gentlemen sitting here are part of our team. We want to take government hospitals to automation. We are addressing defects in the Universal Health Insurance Programme on a priority basis.

Provincial health minister expressed these views while addressing the 6th Vice Chancellors, Principals and MS Conference at a local hotel here on Monday. Secretary Health Punjab Ali Jan Khan, Special Secretary Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Additional Secretaries Zahida Azhar, Dr Hafiz Shahid Latif, Usman Khalid, Chief Planning Officer Abdul Haq Bhatti, Deputy Secretaries and other officials participated in the conference.

VC Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof Dr Khalid Masood Gondal, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Prof Dr Mehmood Ayaz, VC University of Child Health Sciences Prof Dr Masood Sadiq, VC Nishtar Medical University Prof Dr Mahnaz Khakwani, VC Faisalabad Medical University Prof Dr Zafar Chaudhry, VC Rawalpindi Medical University Prof Dr Umar and VC University of Health Sciences Prof Dr Ahsan Waheed Rathore participated in the conference. Principal Amir ud din Medical College Prof Dr Sardar Zafar Al Farid, Principal Allama Iqbal Medical College Prof Dr Ayesha Arif, Principal Services Institute of Medical Sciences Prof Dr Zohra Khanum, Executive Director Punjab Institute Of Cardiology Prof Dr Anjum Jalal, Executive Director Punjab Institute Neurosciences Prof Dr Asif Bashir, CEO Mayo Hospital Prof Dr Ahsan Nauman, MD Children's Hospital Lahore Prof Dr Tipu Sultan, CEO Punjab Health Initiative Management Company Dr Ali Razaq, DG Drugs Dr Sohail, MS Services Hospital Dr Saeed Khan, MS Gangaram Hospital Dr Moeen, MS General Hospital Prof Dr Narat, MS Jinnah Hospital Dr Yahya Sultan, MS Mayo Hospital Dr Faisal Masood, MS PIC Dr Syed Mohsin Ali Shah, MS Said Mittha Hospital Dr Kashif Virk and MS Shahdara Teaching Hospital Dr Faryad were also present on this occasion Provincial health minister and Secretary Health Punjab Ali Jan Khan reviewed the performance of government teaching hospitals during the conference. Provincial health minister in his address said that the performance of all government teaching hospitals has been reviewed in detail during the conference. The head of every teaching hospital should have the qualities of a leader. Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha and Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Care in Lahore are being built for heart disease and cancer patients. Punjab health minister further said that there will be zero tolerance on corruption in government hospitals. Vice chancellors, principals and MS should point out corruption in hospitals. Efforts are being made to complete the revamping project in government hospitals on a fast track. We will blacklist the companies for failing in the revamping project in government hospitals.