Punjab puts hospitals on high alert

LAHORE:The Punjab government has put all public sector tertiary care / teaching hospitals on emergency high alert with immediate effect after Pakistan and India escalation.

The Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department (SHC&MED), in a notification issued on Wednesday, directed all vice chancellors, principals and medical superintendents of all public sector tertiary care / teaching institutions to ensure efficient and uninterrupted medical services, including standby arrangements for emergency medical and surgical treatment to handle any unforeseen emergencies.

The department also cancelled all non-essential leave of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. It also directed to security personnel to remain on high alert and emergency response protocols must be fully activated.

Meanwhile, the Grand Health Alliance (GHA) has called off its strike and announced rejoining their duties to cater to any emergencies in solidarity with the nation and our armed forces during ongoing escalation between Pakistan and India.

While addressing a press conference at Services Hospital on Wednesday, GHA Chairman Dr Salman Haseeb said India made a cowardly attack against civilians in the dark of night. ‘All doctors, nurses and medical staff are taking over their duties in hospitals across Punjab,’ he said, adding the services in indoor and operation theatres had already resumed since previous night. However, he said, they rejected the privatisation of public sector hospitals and contracting systems in the health sector in the province. After the war with India ends, he said, they will announce the next course of action.

The YDA Punjab President Dr Shoaib Niazi said that the medical community stands side by side with our armed forces. Meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharath visited the central control room of the Home Department, where he was briefed by Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal on the overall situation in the province and the steps taken by the government.

The secretary informed that the control room has been fully operational and is actively receiving reports from across Punjab. He added that the control room functions 24/7 under the supervision of an Additional Secretary-level officer. He stated that all security arrangements for key installations have been completed as per standard operating procedures (SOPs). The district-level control rooms have been connected to the central control room to ensure coordinated operations. Hospitals, civil defence units, and law enforcement agencies throughout the province have been placed on high alert.

Speaking to the media, Law Minister Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharath condemned what he called a cowardly attack by India carried out under the cover of darkness. He said that the armed forces of Pakistan, along with the resilient people of the country, are fully prepared to respond to any aggression. The minister praised the professionalism of the Pakistan Air Force, saying it had crushed India’s arrogance by downing five of its aircraft. He declared this as clear evidence of Pakistan’s superiority and commended the military’s effective response, which he said had once again made the nation proud. He also affirmed that the Punjab government had taken timely and comprehensive security measures.