Emergency depts to be set up in hospitals on Turkish pattern

LAHORE

Separate emergency departments would be established in the teaching hospitals of Punjab on the pattern of Turkish Emergency Model. 

For this purpose, the posts of professor of emergency, associate professor emergency and other vacancies would be created with separate service career. Attractive pay package would also be introduced for the posts for effective and smooth running of emergencies in the teaching hospitals. Turkish experts would provide technical and consultancy services for the project. The start of a pilot project has been proposed from Mayo Hospital.

It was decided in a meeting chaired by Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Secretary Najam Ahmad Shah at Civil Secretariat, according to a handout issued here on Sunday. Turkish experts of medical emergency services Dr Mehmat Akif, Dr Mehmat Ergin, Dr Yousaf Ali Altunsi, Dr Ayhan, Dr Ahmet Altiner and Dr Felah Attin were also present.

The Turkish experts briefed the secretary on their observations during their visit to different teaching hospitals of Lahore. They informed that in Turkey, separate emergency departments were established for which dedicated staff had been deployed. They were of the opinion that by deploying dedicated staff and heads of the emergency departments, ownership and sense of responsibility be created. They said that separate emergency services departments was essential in the teaching hospitals of Punjab for providing immediate quality health services to the patients.

Health Secretary Najam Ahmed agreed with the proposal of the Turkish experts and directed the officers of the department to come up with the short-term and long-term proposals with the consultation of Turkish experts for establishing separate emergency departments in the hospitals of the province. Najam Ahmed Shah said that a close coordination and effective mechanism between the emergency departments and indoor service of the hospitals was vital for shifting patients from emergency to the wards.

Medical universities will start four to five years programme in emergency services. However, to make beginning, short-term training courses for the already trained/qualified doctors will be arranged.

Najam Ahmed Shah directed that the duty schedule for the doctors should be for eight hours and, in case of special circumstances, it should not exceed more than 12 hours. He directed that final recommendations must be furnished after taking input of all the stakeholders immediately. the government would provide all resources for hiring new staff, procurement of equipment and other requirements, the secretary concluded.