RAWALPINDI, Feb 7: Punjab Minister for Education Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman on Monday said the provincial government will soon provide 10 dialysis machines to three teaching hospitals of Rawalpindi.

Addressing the 9th convocation of Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC), the minister said the government was giving priority to the provision of better health services to the people.

He said free dialysis service and installation of air conditions in DHQ and teaching hospitals were some of the major steps taken in the health sector. Free medicines, laboratory tests and other facilities are also being provided to the patients in emergency wards of all government hospitals, he added.

The provincial government has started work on the Rs2.6 billion cardiology institute at Rawal Road which will provide healthcare facility to the people by June. He said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also provided funds for the construction of a urology institution and paediatrics and gyne hospital in Rawalpindi.

He said the chief minister was taking personal interest in establishing medical colleges in Gujaranwala, Sialkot, Sahiwal and D.G. Khan with a view to expand the number of medical graduates in the province.

“The chief minister has also constituted a committee to improve and enhance salary packages of medical officers, house officers and postgraduate doctors.” He said a committee headed by Punjab chief secretary had been constituted to expedite work on construction of new campus for the RMC.

The minister said Rs100 million would be provided to the RMC for construction of lecture theatres and provision of four buses for the students. He also announced special prize of Rs100,000 for medical graduate Aneela Naseem Siddiqui who remained top in obtaining gold medals during her studies.

RMC Principal Prof Dr Afzal Farooqi spoke about the facilities at the college and said the institution was known at the international level for its contribution in the field of medical profession. He also pointed out various problems being faced by the college.

Chairman Board of Management RMC Dr Mohammad Aslam counted various steps being taken to improve health facilities in Rawalpindi.

Later, the minister awarded degrees to 200 medical graduates of 32nd batch of the year 2009. He also awarded gold medals to 17 students on the occasion.

Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences Dr Mubasshar Malik also spoke on the occasion.

Senator Begum Najma Hameed, MNAs Malik Shakeel Awan, Malik Ibrar Ahmed, Aqeel Anjum; Ziaullah Shah, MPA, Secretary Health Punjab Fawad Hasan Fawaz, Commissioner Rawalpindi Zahid Saeed and others were also present.