A state of the art mother and child hospital would be established in Lahore and 26 medical post-graduate programmes for medical professionals will also be launched. The new campus of Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) would also be developed. This was announced by Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid during a media talk after chairing a meeting of FJMU Syndicate on Friday. FJMU Vice Chancellor Professor Amir Zaman presented a 37 point agenda in the meeting. The mothers and child hospital would be established under FJMU’s supervision. “We were going to launch training courses for 200 nurses and 46 anaesthesia technologists at Shahdara Hospital under FJMU to address acute shortage in both professions,” Dr Yasmin Rashid further announced. It was decided during the Syndicate meeting that FJMU would purchase a piece of land from its own resources for the proposed new campus. “I am happy that FJMU VC Professor Amir Zaman has initiated a project to set up two more labour rooms at Ganga Ram Hospital. This would reduce the burden on the emergency department,” she praised. Moreover, the Syndicate approved extension of hostel of university besides three new buses would also be purchased for the students. Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid appreciated that FJMU became the first varsity which has set up its own DNA laboratory. “The same university was running the world’s largest thalassaemia programme and I’m proud to be a FJMU fellow,” she said. Replying to a question regarding the abolishment of pro chancellor’s designation, the minister said that a committee was working on it. “Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s government wanted to see universities as fully autonomous bodies on both financial and administrative levels,” she said. The meeting expressed its deep concern on the dangerous condition of servant quarters of Ganga Ram Hospital and it was decided that new multi stories building would be erected by own resources of FJMU. “Medical education at public sector institution was free in Pakistan and government spent Rs 7 million on education of each student however fee of private medical colleges being regulate of directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” Dr Rashid said, while responding to a query. “Brain drain was not in the interest of the nation and we have to offer maximum jobs to our fresh medical graduates,” she pledged. “Let alone 50 percent posts of faculties in medical institutions were vacant,” regretted the minister. She dispelled the impression of shortage of medicines at any public health facility saying, “We have a sufficient stock of drugs until December.” She ruled out chances of expired medicines at any government health centre. The Syndicate also recommended of awarding contract to ad-hoc employees by giving them relaxation in age. “Ninety ad-hoc employees can appear in examinations with 10 grace marks for their seven years’ experiences. This would pave way for their regularisation,” Professor Amir Zaman said. Published in Daily Times, October 13th 2018.