Comprehensive project to control hepatitis launched: CM

Says foolproof system related to medicines evolved

Lahore

Progress on the Health Reforms Roadmap was discussed in a three-hour-long meeting presided over by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and satisfaction was expressed on the progress.

Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the reforms introduced by the Punjab government in the health sector were producing positive results. He directed the authorities concerned to further the vaccination programme in a coordinated manner.

Shahbaz Sharif said a programme had been made to launch the rural ambulance service and 14 more mobile health units were being purchased to provide the best health facilities to the people at their doorstep.

He said the Punjab government had launched a comprehensive project to control hepatitis. He said the hepatitis control clinic would be inaugurated in Lahore next month and the clinic would be linked to nine divisions through satellite. He said hepatitis control bill would be presented in the assembly. He said the Punjab government has made a foolproof system for the purchase, transportation and sale of medicines.  He said the Punjab government would get tested the samples of medicines from renowned laboratories abroad and the first-ever warehouse of medicines would be established in Lahore. He said steps were being taken to end shortage of medical officers and consultants. He said CT scan machines would be operational in all DHQs across Punjab by June this year. 

He said the services of the allied health professionals would be hired and 19 non-clinical services in hospitals, including cleanliness, were being outsourced. He said the Prime Minister Health Insurance Scheme was a mega project for the provision of the best health facilities to the public and the Punjab government had planned to enhance the scope of the scheme from four districts to the whole province. He added that thousands of patients in 36 districts will benefit from the scheme. He said ambulances of the Health Department had been handed over to Rescue 1122. He said the Punjab government had launched the motorbike ambulance service and its scope would also be enhanced to other cities.

Speaking on the occasion, the special representative of the UK institution DFID, Sir Michal Barbar, said the Punjab government was introducing revolutionary steps in the health sector that were producing positive results. He said the Punjab government under the leadership of Shahbaz Sharif was advancing for the provision of the best health facilities to the people.