Shahbaz pays surprise visit to hospital, suspends deputy MS

Patients satisfied with healthcare at hospital

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif paid a surprise visit Wednesday to District Headquarters Hospital, Kasur, without any protocol.

He reached the DHQ Hospital by road without any prior information. There were only two vehicles in his motorcade. Kasur administration remained totally unaware of chief minister’s visit and he also kept the staff in the dark about this trip.

According to a handout, the chief minister called the DC and DPO Kasur to the hospital during his visit and issued necessary instructions.He inquired about the provision of free medicines and healthcare from the patients and their attendants. They expressed satisfaction about provision of high-quality medicines and improvement in healthcare facilities in the hospital. They thanked the chief minister for taking personal interest in bringing substantive improvement in hospital’s conditions. The patients and their attendants also apprised the CM of their problems.

They also thanked the chief minister for issuing on-spot orders for the solution of their problems and said due to his personal attention, much improvement has been brought in the hospital and free medicines have been provided, while treatment is also going well. “May Almighty Allah reward you for service of ailing humanity and grant further zeal to do more,” they prayed.

One elderly person placed his hand on the head of the chief minister; prayed for him and said he has a passion for serving the ailing humanity and the people are with him in this noble cause.

The chief minister expressed his utmost displeasure over the absence of deputy medical superintendent in the hospital and said if the MS has gone to Lahore, then it was the duty of deputy MS to remain available in the hospital to take care of the patients. He issued orders to immediately suspend the absent DMS and said the Punjab government has been bringing improvements in hospitals with a cost of billions of rupees and on the other side, the administrative officers in the hospitals have adopted such carefree attitude which cannot be tolerated at any cost.

Punjab government has given cash prizes worth millions of rupees to doctors and paramedical staff who are serving the ailing humanity with commitment. These benefactors are our pride and such dutiful persons would be encouraged in future as well.

People showing dereliction of duty will be prosecuted under the law. “They will also be held accountable because I cannot tolerate any leniency or negligence in service of ailing humanity,” he warned. The chief minister expressed his displeasure over non-wearing of uniforms by supervisor and other janitorial staff and directed to take action, adding that officials not wearing uniforms be changed as per directions of the Punjab government.

There is a need to devise a system of effective monitoring, he added. He ordered to hold inquiry of a complaint about giving less salary to the janitorial staff while making them to sign the increased amount of salary. Kasur DPO was directed to hold inquiry and present a report at the earliest along with fixation of responsibility as well as action against the guilty persons.

The chief minister also expressed displeasure over some spots on the floor in wards and said though cleanliness system has been improved but there is a room for further cleanliness. He expressed displeasure over the presence of large gas cylinder in a ward.

He further said wards should be developed according to new requirements so that the patients could be provided facilities at their beds. He directed that development of mechanism of gas supply through centralised system should be reviewed. He advised the doctors and nurses to guide the patients and their attendants about preventive measures for safety from infections.

On the other hand, chief minister expressed deep sense of sorrow over the loss of lives in incidents due to torrential rains in different districts of Punjab.He expressed his heartfelt sympathies to the heirs of the persons who died in rain-related incidents and also directed the administration of the districts concerned to provide best healthcare facilities to the injured.

The chief minister expressed sense of grief over the demise of provincial Secretary I&C Farasat Iqbal. He paid tributes to the late civil servant.In a condolence message to the bereaved family, the chief minister extended his sympathies and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in peace and grant courage and strength to the family members to bear this irreparable loss.