LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to outsource laundry facilities of all tehsil headquarter hospitals (THQs) and district headquarter hospitals (DHQs) across the province to private firms with a view to provide efficient washing and cleaning services to patients. The government has taken an initiative to handover laundry facilities of 25 DHQs and all THQs of Punjab to a third party. Well-placed sources in the Primary and Secondary Healthcare (P&SHC) Department told Daily Times that as part of the implementation plan, medical laundry units were required to be installed in district headquarter hospitals in order to provide services to respective provincial hospitals. The P&SHC Department has invited the expression of interest (EoI) from suitable agents of leading brands of laundry units, national/international credible firms/organisations/ JVs for providing washing/cleaning services for hospital linen. The interested organisations from leading international brands are required to propose their models for installing brand new hospital laundry units in the premises of DHQs. The unit would comprise medium-sized two washing/extraction machines, one barrier washer, one dryer, flat work ironer, press etc. Sources further said that some DHQs would provide their already available appropriate space for establishing this facility. The third party would renovate the allocated area as per international standards set for a hospital laundry unit. About the charges and scope of work, the party may quote its own acceptable rates in terms of percentage. The party shall be authorised to charge Rs 200,000 for DHQs and Rs 75,000 for THQ hospitals that would be paid by the government on monthly basis depending on the bed occupancy rate for bed sheets, theatre linen, draw sheets, patient gowns, doctors’ overall, nurses’ uniform etc. In addition to DHQ hospital linen, the party would collect and deliver the linen of THQs at its own expense besides changing the bed sheets/pillow covers at least twice a day. Barrier washer would be used, but not limited to, the contaminated and theatre linen. High quality and government-approved washing detergents would be used by the parties, which would also be responsible for removing stain chemicals. Firms would arrange the entire staff for providing the services of maintenance, operation, collection, delivery, housekeeping etc. They would also be allowed to wash linen/clothes other than that of DHQ and THQ hospitals. A fixed amount of utility charges for services would be borne by the party. The party would be given 10-times linen by the government for it’s washing cycles and ensure the availability of clean linen all the time. The party would replace 50% of the linen with equal quality staff after the end of every year. It would install the system within three months of signing the contract and complete the entire installation of the sites within six months (in case of complete units). The party would maintain its accounts, which would be available with the government for audit. The validity of this contract would span for three years, extendable, subjected to performance. The parties may submit their EOI for all 25 units or for selected locations.