85pc basic health units made fully functional in Punjab: minister

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary & Secondary Health Kh Imran Nazir has said in the history of Punjab first time 85 per cent basic health units have been made fully functional by posting medical officers.

He said visible improvement has been witnessed in biometric attendance system at the health facilities which has reached up to 60 to 100 percent, it will further improve.

He stated this while addressing a monthly conference of chief executive officers of health at the committee room of Directorate General Health Services Punjab on Sunday, according to a handout. Kh Imran Nazir directed the chief executive officers to prepare lists of the absent staff and action must be taken against them under PEEDA Act. He said no leniency would be tolerated in this regard. He all CEOs Health should immediately create their WhatsApp group in which all the officers should be included for updating themselves regarding any development and immediate transformation of any urgent news to the high-ups.

The meeting was briefed regarding the contingency plan of expected floods in the monsoon season. The meeting was informed about the arrangements for medical relief to the flood affected people, vaccination of children in the flood affected areas.

Director EPI Dr M Munir advised the CEOs that vaccination against measles and polio must be ensured in the flood hit area as both the diseases normally spread very fast in such environment. Kh Imran Nazir directed that sufficient stock of life saving drugs, provision of drinking water, aquapura tablets, anti-snake venom and anti-rabies vaccine also be made available in all the medical relief camps and the health centers for saving the precious human lives.

Kh Imran Nazir suspended District Health Officer, Mianwali Preventive, M Rafique Khan on non-compliance of his orders for arresting a quake who was responsible of deaths of two children suffering from measles. On the direction of Minister Primary & Secondary Health, Secretary Ali Jan Khan immediately issued the notification of suspension of the officer. Secretary Health directed the CEOs to collect data of the officers and the officials according to the key performance indicators for incentive award ceremony in coming days. He said supply of electricity and drinking water must be ensured in all the DHQ/THQ hospitals and basic health units.

He said the government has provided a lot of funds to the said health facilities therefore no excuse for unavailability of such facilities would be accepted. He said funds are available, therefore, the officers should purchase or get generators on rent to continue the electricity supply to the health facility.

Kh Imran Nazir observed quackery cannot be eliminated at once from the country but the CEOs should evolve a close monitoring system of quakes and take strict action on their criminal negligence. Kh Imran Nazir said a centre for online drug sale licensing system should be set up in the office of every CEO Health to facilitate people. He said there is no hurdle in the renewal of chemists’ licences and two years extension in schedule G is being made. He said rural ambulance service for pregnant women should be made more popular among the rural population for which awareness campaign also be launched at local level. Kh Imran Nazir said a felicitation centre in every CEO Health office should be established for accommodating elected public representatives coming to the office for redressing public issues.

Secretary P&S Health Ali Jan Khan, Director General Health Services Dr Faisal Zahoor, CEO Punjab Health Facilities Management Company M Ali Amir, all the additional secretaries health, Provincial Director IRMNCH Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed, Additional Director Dr Akhtar Rasheed Malik, Director PSPU M Khan Ranjha, members of Chief Minister’s Health Roadmap team, representatives of PITB and international development partners attended the meeting.