PHC, UN Fund join hands for family planning

LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission and United Nations Fund for Population have joined hands for family planning, and the former will arrange awareness seminars for the family physicians and staff of private hospitals from this month.

This was decided in a meeting comprising senior PHC officials and Programme and Technical Adviser RH/FP UNFPA Shoaib Ahmed Shahzad. The meeting was held here on Tuesday with Chief Executive Officer PHC Dr Muhammad Saqib Aziz in the chair. Directors Clinical Governance Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Salariya and Additional Director Dr Majid Latif were also present in the meeting.

Dr Saqib Aziz briefed the meeting on the PHC’s mandate, and mentioned that inspection of the family planning services at the HCEs was also being carried out as per the requirement of the minimum service delivery standards (MSDS).

The participants underlined the need for awareness and training of the family physicians and private hospitals. It was agreed that the private healthcare establishments, besides advocating for the cause of family planning, should provide the services and refer deserving patients to the population welfare centres.

On the suggestion of the Punjab Healthcare Commission, the Population Welfare Department has nominated District Population Officers as focal persons for consultation and guidance of family physicians.