Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Health Foundation’s (PHF) failure to recover millions of rupees from doctors and non-government organisations (NGOs) has raised serious question marks on its recovery process.

Well-placed sources in the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education (SHE&ME) Department told Daily Times that to shift the burden from government hospitals and to provide quality health facility for the common man, the government decided to strengthen the hospitals/clinics in private sector across the province. In this regard, it was decided to establish a new department to provide interest-free loans to MBBS/BDS doctors and NGOs working in the health sector. In order to realise this dream, PHF was established under the Punjab Health Foundation Act, 1992.

The establishment of PHF was a significant initiative of this government that was vital to actively assist and promote the private sector in providing broader health services. The foundation helps provide financial assistance in urban and rural areas to individual doctors, promote NGOs, encourage health institutions and allied projects for their establishment and upgradation of existing facilities.

According to official documents available with Daily Times, PHF has given Rs 12.3 million to different doctors and NGOs, including Dr Samina Gul from Rawalpindi (Rs 0.3 million), Social welfare Society, Lahore (Rs 0.4 million), Dr Rasheed Arshad from Sheikhupura (Rs 0.8 million), Dr Sultan Ahmad from Faisalabad (0.9 million), Idara Khidmat-e-Awam, Muzaffargarh (0.6 million), Dr Mehar Muhammad Naeem from Multan (Rs one million), Dr Sadaf Yahia from Sialkot (0.3 million), Dr Muhammad Abuzar Shirani from DG Khan (Rs 2.2 million), Dr Waheed Akhtar from Kasur (0.4 million), Zakria Welfare Development Association, Multan (Rs 1.3 million), Uplifting Community, Multan (Rs 1.4 million), Anjuman Maqbool Welfare Society, Narowal (Rs 0.9 million), Ehsas Welfare Society, Layyah (Rs 0.9 million) and Al Mahmood Welfare Organisation, Layyah (Rs 0.9 million). However, PHF failed to recover the money from them.

PHF Managing Director Dr Suhail Saqlain has said that steps are being taken to make the foundation a vibrant and effective institution and with the help of Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), all systems of PHF are being transferred to automation. He said that for issuance of interest-free loans, all process would be carried out online, adding that it would promote merit and transparency in the system.

Dr Saqlain claimed that within two months of his posting as PHF’s MD, he has taken a number of solid steps for the betterment of the foundation and during that period, loans worth Rs 25.178 million were released to doctors whereas Rs 6.731 million were recovered.