‘Hospitals performance improved manifold’

LAHOR E: Punjab Minister for Primary & Secondary Health Khwaja Imran Nazir has said that as a result of provision of huge funds by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the tireless efforts carried out by the government functionaries, the performance of public sector hospitals have been improved manifold and better health care services are being provided in the hospitals. However, it is their duty to utilise their administrative capabilities for sustaining these improvements.

He stated this while addressing the monthly conference of medical superintendents of DHQ/THQ hospitals Saturday, according to a handout issued here. Besides Secretary Health Ali Jan Khan, Director General (DG) Health Dr Akhtar Rasheed Malik, Additional Secretary Technical Dr Asim Altaf, Director Project Management Unit Muhammad Usman and other senior officers of the department also attended the conference. Kh Imran Nazir said that accident & emergency department is the face of every hospital; therefore, special attention must be paid to improve the emergency services and no compromise should be made in this regard.

He said that billions of rupees have been provided for the provision of quality medicines in the hospitals; therefore, procurement of high quality medicines also be ensured. He directed that helping counters should immediately be established in which hospitals where these are yet not established. He said that waiting areas also be allocated for the patients and their attendants according to the SOPs having the facility of drinking water, air conditioning, sound system and token. He asked the medical superintendents that instead of waiting for notice from the chief minister, health minister or the secretary on the complaints, they must resolve the grievances of the patients and their attendants and it should be documented properly.

Speaking to the participants of the conference, Secretary Health Ali Jan Khan said there is a need to maintain strict discipline in the hospitals in every area.

He said health councils have been funded with Rs5 million for the DHQ hospital and Rs2 million for the THQ hospital to meet the day to day expenses of the hospital. He said that rational and efficient use of these funds must be ensured and bring these expenditures in the discipline and everything should be documented and the funds be utilised after completing all the formalities, keeping in view the relevant rules and regulations.

During the conference, performance of every hospital was evaluated individually and necessary instructions were issued to the medical superintendents in this regard. Training of the nurses in different specialties for DHQ/THQ hospitals, appointment of admin officers, budget and account officers and other officials came under discussion in detail.

Moreover, they were asked to submit performance evaluation reports of their contractual staff immediately so that extension could be made in their contractual appointments accordingly.