CM vows to improve medical facilities at all costs

Pays surprise visit to Raiwind THQ hospital; reprimands MS
on poor cleanliness, closure of pharmacy

LAHORE

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said he was determined to improve the situation of the hospitals and expressed the hope that he would not rest content until the improvement of medical facilities and system of hospitals. 

The chief minister, on Sunday, paid a surprise visit to THQ hospital, Raiwind without protocol and reached the hospital only in two vehicles.

He inspected different wards, inquired after the patients' health and asked about the facilities being provided in the hospital. He expressed displeasure over absence of staff at the reception. He reprimanded MS on poor cleanliness and dirty washbasin in operation theatre of the hospital. He said wastage of the hard-earned money of the poor in such a way was shameful.

Shahbaz Sharif said he would not allow wastage of resources of the nation. He said he had taken the responsibility of reforming the hospitals and would not rest content until the availability of quality health facilities to the patients. He said he was personally visiting the hospitals to monitor the situation.

The chief minister took strict notice of closure of pharmacy and store in the hospital and said crores of rupees had been spent on new hospital and common patients should benefit from it but the situation was lamentable.

He visited emergency ward, admonished MS and asked him, would he like to treat his relative in such a dirty condition? The chief minister expressed displeasure over falling of air-conditioner water on the wall of a ward, which was damaging the wall, and said that cleanliness and improvement of hygiene system was the responsibility of the administration. He reprimanded the MS on seeing the sanitary staff without uniform and said despite his clear directions not wearing uniform by the hospital staff was deplorable.

Shahbaz Sharif said the Punjab government was spending billions of rupees on provision of quality and modern healthcare facilities to the people and modern hospitals were being set up throughout the province. Under this programme, a new hospital has been constructed at a cost of crores of rupees at Raiwind so that best medical facilities could be made available to the people at their doorsteps but he expressed sorrow over seeing poor hygienic condition, non-availability of quality medical facilities and medical staff during his visit.

He said appointment of orthopedic surgeon had been made in the hospital but he had still not joined his duty. There was no gynaecologist present in the hospital and only one nurse was on duty in emergency ward.

The chief minister displayed sadness over the situation and said that service to ailing humanity was a form of worship and there should be a spirit of serving the humanity. He inquired from the patients and their attendants about the treatment facilities being provided in the hospital who told the CM that hospital was splendid but there was lack of healthcare facilities and medical staff and they faced difficulties due to non-presence of staff at noon. He said that fruits of resources of billions of rupees provided for public health facilities should reach the patients at every cost.