Daily Times

LAHORE: The Patient Transfer Service of the Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) shifted over 100, 000 critical patients from lower to higher specialised healthcare facilities in Punjab during the last six months, said Rescue 1122 Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer on Wednesday.

“We are working in close coordination with the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department to facilitate the public in provision of healthcare facilities,” a statement issued quoting the director general as saying.

He added that Punjab under the leadership of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif was following the Turkish healthcare system. “The Turkish Model shows that it is quite possible to achieve major improvements in healthcare performance in a relatively short period of time while utilising available resources strategically.”

He said the PTS had shifted over 100, 000 emergency critical patients from low to specialized healthcare facilities in all districts of Punjab during last six months. He said that rescuers assigned additional duties for PTS had made it possible to ensure smooth, swift and strategically services delivery, thus serving the public in real sense.

He said that the chief minister had appreciated rescuers for ensuring services delivery through the Patient Transfer Service. “Moreover, the PTS has started a feedback system through which we are getting firsthand information of healthcare issues of patients,” he added.

According to the breakdown, 4,882 referral cases were witnessed in Muzaffargarh, 4,871 in Multan, 4,589 in Sheikhupura, 4,442 in Khanewal, 4,137 in Kasur, 4,136 in Lahore, 4,129 in Faisalabad, 3,936 in Rahim Yar Khan, 3,826 in Gujranwala and others. The director general directed the district emergency officers to take up issues with deputy commissioners concerned keeping in view the nature of data of patients’ referral during monthly meetings of the district emergency boards.

Published in Daily Times, August 17^th 2017.