‘Provision of quality medicines in Punjab soon’

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that provision of quality and modern medical facilities to people is his mission which will be fulfilled at all costs.The chief minister chaired a meeting, which reviewed progress on the steps taken to improve the healthcare system and ongoing reform programmes in the health sector.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that we had to move forward to serve the ailing humanity. All-out resources are available for the provision of better medical facilities to the people. He said that Prime Minister National Health Insurance Programme was successfully running in four districts of the province and the scope of this programme would be extended to all districts of the province. The chief minister said the Punjab government had introduced a modern system of purchase, supply and distribution of medicines and this new system would end sale of counterfeit and substandard medicines.

The chief minister said the samples of medicines were being sent to foreign labs for examination and those who were performing well in collecting samples of medicines and sending them to foreign labs would be encouraged. This new system of purchase, supply and distribution of medicines was an important step for the provision of quality medicines to the patients, he added.

He said the programme to provide city scan machines in all districts was being implemented. With the installation of city scan machines in districts hospitals, the patients would have city scan facilities round-the-clock.

The chief minister also directed for the audit of dialyses machines installed in all government hospitals and to take immediate steps to overcome the shortage of nephrologists in government hospitals. He said that mobile health units were providing quality medical facilities to people at their doorsteps in remote areas. He also directed to complete the matter regarding the purchase of more mobile health units. He also directed to present a comprehensive plan for blood bank, blood collection and blood transfer.

The chief minister said that Patient Transfer Service was a revolutionary step of the Punjab government. He added that continuous efforts were required for the improvement in healthcare system which would bear fruits one day. DG Rescue 1122 while briefing said that all steps had been taken for the auction of old ambulances and the auction of 81 outmoded ambulances would be done this month.