Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir has directed the medical superintendents of district headquarters (DHQs) and tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospitals to make efforts for achieving the set targets, besides maintaining the minimum service delivery standards (MSDS).

Addressing the monthly conference of medical superintendents of DHQ and THQ hospitals in the committee room of the Directorate General of Health Services on Sunday, he said that medical superintendents should ensure that quality healthcare was being provided to the patients. He said that the revamping of these hospitals should also be expedited.

Imran Nazir reiterated that the target of revamping of 40 DHQ/THQ hospitals should be achieved during the current financial year.

Health Secretary Ali Jan Khan informed the minister that emergency medical officers (EMO) were being posted at all district headquarters hospitals and their salary package would be up to Rs 250,000 if they were posted at far-flung areas, like Rajanpur.

He said that for those posted at nearby district like Kasur and Sheikhupura, the salary package would be Rs 100,000. He further said that the EMOs would be exempted from medico-legal duties.

The minister said that information technology would be used and android applications be introduced to monitor the performance of medical superintendents.

He said that on the directives of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the primary and secondary healthcare system was being further strengthened to ensure healthcare facilities at the doorsteps of the people. He said that apart from appointment of specialist doctors, intensive care units (ICUs) consisting of five beds would also be established in each DHQ hospital, along with ventilators, to provide best medical care to critical patients at local level for saving their lives.

He said that an integrated referral system had been introduced for which pool of ambulances had been set up under the control of Rescue 1122 for immediate shifting of any serious patient from a small hospital to a tertiary-level hospital for advanced treatment without any delay.

He said that this pool had been set up at the district level. The minister issued directives for ensuring biometric attendance of the staff, availability of medicines and maintaining the standard of cleanliness at the hospitals.

Special Secretary and Health Director General Dr Faisal Zahoor, directors of Vertical Health Programmes and senior officers of the department also attended the meeting.