LAHORE, Feb 7: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has said that all missing facilities will be provided at rural health centres (RHCs) within one year under the health sector reforms programme recently launched in the province.

Chairing a meeting to review progress of the programme at the Planning and Development department here on Tuesday, he said an amount of Rs6 billion would be spent on the provision of medical staff, buildings, utilities and other facilities at RHCs and basic health units (BHUs).

A special package would be offered to the medical officers opting for RHCs and BHUs, he said.

Medical officers working at BHUs would be offered Rs25,000 salary, while senior medical officers at RHCs would be paid an extra allowance of Rs8,000.

Those ready to join duties at BHUs of backward districts like Rajanpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Muzaffargarh, Layyah and Attock would get an extra allowance of Rs3,000.

The chief minister said the doctors working at BHUs would also be offered soft loans for purchase of motorbikes, pick-and-drop facility for their school-going children, besides priority in post-graduate courses.

An additional incentive of 25 marks in Public Service Commission exams for regular selection would be given to those serving for two years at any RHC or BHU.

A unit has been established to monitor the pace of implementation of the reforms. The CM said he would himself preside over monthly meetings of the unit for effective monitoring of the programme.

There is also a plan to provide one ambulance, besides diagnostic and surgical equipment at each RHC.

A vacancy of bio-medical engineer will also be created in each district for maintenance of medical equipment at these centres.

The chief minister also sought a separate medico-legal service, linking it with the prosecution department so that doctors could focus on treatment of their patients rather than wasting time in legal formalities.

He directed that steps should be taken for establishing a cancer hospital in Lahore as well as accelerating the implementation of tele-medicine project.