Reforms revolutionised health sector in Punjab: CM

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said reforms in the health sector had resulted in a revolutionary change in Punjab.

He was presiding over a meeting to review progress on the Punjab Reforms Roadmap for Health Sector via video link from London, according to a handout issued on Saturday.

The chief minister said modern medical equipment had been provided to public hospitals across the province, resulting in a change in the health culture.

He said the objective behind a visible increase in the budget of the primary and secondary health departments was to overcome problems and provide necessary facilities to patients.

According to a briefing given to the meeting, the meeting was informed that the mother and child mortality rate had been significantly reduced due to trained birth attendants and immunisation vaccinations. More than one million children are protected every year from deadly diseases including measles, polio and pneumonia by providing them timely vaccinations.

The vaccination coverage is provided to 82 to 98 per cent children every year.

A round-the-clock service through 400 ambulances has been provided in rural areas to carry pregnant women to 1,000 basic health units across the province in case of emergency. Under this ambulance service, 28,000 pregnant women have been shifted to labour rooms for safe delivery.

Speaking on the occasion, Department for International Development (DFID) Managing Partner Sir Michael Barber said 92 per cent provision of medicines had been reported in basic and rural health units besides appointment of medical officers in 85 per cent health units.

The percentage of improvement in electricity, water, sewerage, lights and toilets had increased from 85 per cent to 99 per cent, he added.

“The system of care of newborn babies before and after birth has improved significantly,” Barber said.

According to Barber, 336,000 people have been registered and consultative service and medicines provided to over 50,000 and 65,000 patients respectively under the hepatitis elimination and prevention programme.

Auto-disable syringes are being provided in tehsil and district headquarters hospitals. Over 100 hepatitis clinics are functional in THQ and DHQs across the province where more than 6,000 patients are getting treatment. Twenty-five more hepatitis clinics are being set up with the collaboration of the PKLI. More than 18,000 children [victim of malnutrition] are getting treatment under the nutrition emergency. Trained lady health workers have been provided more than 400 ultrasound machines.

Barber said the number of medical officers in THQs and DHQs has been doubled, adding that a saving of more than one billion rupees had been done due to the central purchase of medicines and 25 special trucks were dispatched daily to provide medicines along with establishing special warehouses.

Separately, the chief minister, in his message on Earth Hour, called for joint efforts to protect environment.