KARACHI: Modalities to transfer the management of some government hospitals to reputable non-governmental organisations under the public-private partnership initiatives of Sindh government were discussed in detail in the meeting presided over by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah at CM House here on Friday.

The idea of this scheme was to improve and ensure the efficient healthcare services to ailing people on a performance-based partnership.

Health Secretary Iqbal Durrani briefing participants in the meeting said that after floating this scheme, 32 “expression of inte­rests” were received from qualified non-governmental organizations including Aga Khan, Aman Found­a­tion, Mereton International and Indus hospitals whereas Bahria Foundation has expressed its willingness for adopting the hospitals with 100 per cent responsibilities on a voluntary basis. Out of 32 responses, 12 had been short listed, he said.

Minister for Parliamen­tary Affairs Dr Sikandar Man­dhro, Prin­ci­pal Secretary to Chief Minister Alum­din Bullo, Law Secre­tary Mir Mohammad Shaikh, PPP leader Sherry Rehman and officers concerned attended the meeting.

They participated in a discussion aimed at giving refining the proposed draft of agreement presented by the health department. The agreement was supposed to be signed by partner organisations to make it more feasible, flawless and acceptable to all stakeholders.

Ms Rehman, however, highlighted the need to update the draft of agreement with reference to future challenges and said that clauses pertaining to running the administrative matters, sharing responsibilities or running the facilities with 100 per cent responsibilities on a voluntary basis should be clearly incorporated in the proposed agreement in such a way that no party or stakeholder be disturbed, but contribute to improve the health facilities for the suffering people.

The chief minister said the purpose of public private partnership initiative of the Sindh government was to provide maximum health facilities to the ailing people on modern lines.

He said the objective was provision of better health facilities to the underprivileged people on a par with private hospital standards and it would be fulfilled within the shortest possible time.

The chief minister asked health department officers to update the draft of agreement within 48 hours in accordance with the recommendations passed in the meeting.

During the discussion, the chief minister informed the meeting that the Sindh government had planned to recruit 1,155 more doctors to provide better medical facilities to the people in the public sector hospitals.

He said 430 doctors were appoin­ted recently while the recruitment of 553 male doctors and 172 female medical officers was under way. He said that priority was being given to strengthen the hospitals in district Tharparkar and other parts of the arid zone in addition to underdeveloped areas of Sindh. He claimed the Tharparkar situation had improved with medical facilities being provided to the people at district headquarters and taluka headquarters hospitals as well as health facilities at the union council level. The ministers had also been asked to visit Tharparkar district and monitor the health facilities and relief activities personally, he said.

About law and order situation, the chief minister said the government made huge investment for the procurement of arms, ammunitions, vehicles, alarming gadgets and increasing the strength of Sindh Police.

Mr Shah said the Sindh government also decided to raise salary of officials of Sindh Police on a par with those of Punjab Police. The Sindh government was already providing special allowance to the police force appointed at vulnerable police stations, he added.

Targeted operation

The chief minister also held a meeting with Rangers DG Maj General Bilal Akbar and Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali at CM House and discussed with them matters related to law and order in the province, especially with reference to their achievements in the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi.

Expressing his satisfaction over the achievements against heinous crimes, the chief minister paid tribute to the Rangers and Sindh police personnel who embraced martyrdom while protecting the lives of the innocent citizens.

He said the government was determined to eliminate terrorism, targeted killing, extortion, kidnap for ransom and other criminal activities in the province.

He asked the Rangers and police chiefs to ensure strict vigilance at all entry and exit points of Sindh and major cities to avoid infiltration of criminals in the province. He highlighted the need for having effective intelligence sharing between law-enforcement agencies, snap checking, patrolling the highways and city roads.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2014

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