LAHORE, March 27: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday allowed medical colleges in the province to remain affiliated with the Punjab University, according to reliable sources.

New medical colleges would nevertheless be bound to seek affiliation with the University of Health Sciences, which was established by the government of Governor Khalid Maqbool.

There are seven medical colleges in the province and except for Lahore’s King Edward Medical College, all have sought affiliation with the new university. However, the decision has been opposed by academic councils in four colleges.

The chief minister gave the permission while presiding over a meeting where he also announced several steps for the improvement of healthcare and education systems.

The medical curricula and examination system would be streamlined, monitoring of terminal diseases and epidemics strengthened, a generic medicine system introduced and 34 DHQ hospitals linked with major teaching hospitals through an audio-video conference system so that patients in remote areas could get professional and expert advice from specialist doctors.

Official sources informed Dawn after the meeting that the steps announced by the chief minister had all been suggested by his new health adviser Dr Javaid Asghar at the time of his appointment on Tuesday, which showed that “the advisor was more influential than the health minister”.

Dr Asghar’s wife, Dr Faeza, was also appointed the chief minister’s adviser on children rights on Tuesday.

Sources said the chief minister had directed the health department to provide all support to his adviser, who would implement the decisions in collaboration with key players including international health bodies.

They said the chief minister had allowed revision of the curricula and teaching methods in medical colleges, which, the adviser said, needed improvement in line with international standards.

Curricula would be revised after the approval of the Punjab University board of studies and academic councils of all the medical colleges. A new examination system would also be introduced after it was tested through a pilot project.

Sources said the chief minister had agreed with the proposal to eliminate substandard drugs, and allowed the adviser to evolve a system whereby a generic system of medicines could be introduced in the province.

He approved introduction of a system to check unethical practices of doctors as well as a system whereby the causes of terminal diseases like hepatitis would be determined and their prevention suggested.

The chief minister said telemedicine centres would be established in DHQs and teaching hospitals to facilitate communication between doctors and patients. Tehsil headquarter hospitals would also be included under a phased programme, and double shift started in all teaching hospitals.

He warned that stern action would be taken against the unregistered medical institutions and those spreading quackery in the province. A new system would be evolved to monitor the working of private medical institutions, he said.

The chief minister announced that a hotline would be launched for information about healthcare, and hospitals given latest equipment to provide better health cover to the people.

He said public awareness would be created about hepatitis and other diseases, and international health standards adopted to lower the infant morality rate.

The chief minister said healthcare model villages would be established in the province. These would be provided clean drinking water, sanitation facilities and a better medical cover. All these facilities would also be extended to other areas afterwards, he said.

The meeting was also attended by Law Minister Raja Basharat and Health Minister Dr Tahir Javaid.