Minister terms health clinics game changer initiative

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir has termed the establishment of state-of-the-art Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics a game-changer in health delivery.

He said it is a ‘golden opportunity’ for young doctors to make the model a success. Addressing the operational training session of selected young doctors at a local hotel on Thursday, the minister emphasised the importance of the initiative in reshaping the province’s healthcare system.

During the session, the doctors were thoroughly briefed on the operational management procedures of the clinics. The minister congratulated the young doctors for being entrusted with the management of these clinics, highlighting that their selection was based on merit, experience, and professional expertise, with a preference for local practitioners.

He assured the audience that the CM’s vision aimed to financially empower doctors while ensuring modern and improved healthcare services for communities. He clarified that basic health units (BHUs) had not been privatised but outsourced under a model designed to provide better health services. He also promised additional benefits for doctors if the outsourcing model proves successful.

He expressed gratitude to the CM for allocating significant funds to revamp basic and rural health centres. Health Secretary Nadia Saqib instructed health CEOs to ensure young doctors face no operational issues and directed the prominent display of clinic facilities on standardised panaflex boards. She confirmed that the clinics would be handed over to the young doctors within a week, with operations officially beginning on Monday.