Notification on raise in tests fee at govt hospitals reviewed

LAHORE: A meeting to review the notified user charges was held under the chairmanship of Punjab Health Minister Prof Yasmin Rashid here on Tuesday in committee room of specialised healthcare & medical education department.

The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Health Mian Shakeel, experts from different specialties including; Prof Asad Aslam Khan, Prof Nadeem Hayat Mallick, Prof Khalid Mahmood, Prof Asghar Naqi, Prof Rana Arshad, Prof Maroof Aziz Khan, Prof Saeed Ahmad, Prof Qamar Sardar Shaikh, Dr Rabia Wajid, Dr Asim Hameed and Dr Afzal Mahmood.

The meeting observed, at present, there were no charges for diagnostic tests for the patients admitted in wards and those attending the emergency department. There are nominal charges for diagnostic tests for patients in OPD. However, the medical superintendent is fully authorised to completely waive off these charges for the non affording patients in OPD.

It was also observed in the meeting that the notification of the user charges, issued on February 18, had clearly stated that these charges were only for the private/ paying patients. The notification shows that a nominal increase in the radiology and pathology tests for OPD and the purpose of this exercise was to bring a uniformed user charges for all over the Punjab. It should be noted the change regarding charges for surgical procedures, they were under review to make them compatible.

Consultative session on forest policy: The Urban Unit organised a stakeholders’ consultative session to discuss and deliberate on Punjab Urban and Peri-Urban Forest Policy 2019. The session was held with an aim to analyse the draft of the policy prepared by the Punjab Urban Unit in consultation with various relevant departments.

Urban Unit CEO Khalid Sherdil gave a presentation on the draft of the urban forest policy while focusing its significance as well as the dire need to get it implemented soon so that all the departments and organisations concerned can play their part in promotion of an active urban tree management system.

He also shared the institutional framework and implementation strategy for the policy. Public education is the top agenda of drafting the policy and the Urban Unit will ensure that after approval it is well disseminated for public action and awareness,” said Sherdil.

“Pakistan has the second fastest deforestation rate after Afghanistan in Asia which is alarming. We can bank on urban forestry and bridge this gap while ensuring a greener environment for our future generations. The need is to plan and execute successful pilot projects and then roll those out in far and wide after necessary consultation,” said Hammad Naqi, director general, WWF Pakistan. He also assured the Punjab government of any possible support in pursuance of improved forest cover of Punjab.

“In line with obligations under international agreements and SDGs, we need to ensure conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystem in particular forests so that we improve forest area as a proportion of total land area.

The Urban Forest Policy Draft presented by the Urban Unit needs to be seen minutely so as to draw some conclusion and make it a permanent guideline too,” said Mujtaba Piracaha, Lahore commissioner. He reinforced the significance of effective regulatory regime to harness the full potential of urban forestry.

Ameer Muhammad Khan, adviser to Punjab chief minister, appreciated the efforts of Urban Unit. He said, “Punjab government is committed to providing all kind of support to get the Punjab Urban Forest Policy approved and implemented.”

The speakers included Secretary Forestry Capt (R) Muhammad Asif, PHA DG Faisal Zahoor, Zahra Gillani, Ahmed Hassan Khan Advocate, Sheraz J Monnoo and Imrana Tiwana. They commended the draft and through research work done for the policy stressing the need to get it approved and put to implementation in the larger interest of citizens of Punjab province. The event was also participated by Rescue 1122 DG Rizwan Naseer, Agriculture DG Zafaryab Haider and PDMA DG Rashad Ahmad Khan.