LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that provision of medical facilities to poor patients is his top priority. Talking to the media after visiting the Multan Institute of Kidney Disease on Wednesday, the chief minister said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had abolished VIP culture at hospitals. “The government will ensure availability of free-of-cost medicines to patients at hospitals,” he said. The chief minister made these remarks after some patients complained against non-provision of free medicines. He expressed strong indignation over unavailability of medicines, mismanagement and poor cleanliness conditions at the institute. Shehbaz Sharif visited all sections of the Outdoor Department of the institute where he was informed that process of free dialysis had been started at the institute. Upon entry of saline in a wall of newly constructed hospital, the chief minister ordered suspension of senior engineer, executive engineer, SDO and staff concerned of the Building Department and said that inquiry into the matter should be conducted by the Chief Minister Inspection Team. Shehbaz said that it was unfortunate that discrepancies pointed out earlier during his first visit to the institute were yet to be removed. He said that the Health Department, administration and institutions concerned had failed in improving the system. Replying to a question, Shehbaz Sharif said that he would again visit the institute and added that process of transplantation of kidneys would be started at the earliest. Responding to another question regarding use of protocol by the son of the medical superintendent of the Nishter Hospital, the chief minister said that he himself did not use protocol and how could he allow anyone to use protocol. Later, Shehbaz Sharif went to the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital and inspected extension project of the hospital. He reviewed progress of construction work and expressed his satisfaction. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that completion of extension project would result in availability of quality and modern medical facilities to the people of southern Punjab. The chief minister said that no compromise would be tolerated on quality while a third-party inspection of the project would also be conducted. Meanwhile, the chief minister also visited Emine Erdogan Danish Care Girls School, Muzaffargarh on Wednesday. The chief minister visited every class room and advised students to work hard. He said that the school was a living symbol of Pak-Turk friendship. He said that people of Pakistan had great love for Turkey as it had supported Pakistan in difficult times. Provincial Minister for Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq, lawmakers, health secretary, district and administrative officers were also present on the occasion. Published in Daily Times, August 17th 2017.