LAHORE, Sept 21: Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi ordered on Sunday the provision of adequate and brisk medical facilities in the emergency wards of all hospitals in the province.

He issued the order during a surprise visit to the Lahore General Hospital, expressing his dissatisfaction over the state of affairs there.

The chief minister said a special cell would be constituted to improve and monitor the treatment facilities in emergency wards. Arrangements had been made to seek full information about the conditions in the emergency wards of all hospitals, he said.

He said emergency treatment was the most important aspect of the health care system as a slight mishandling of the patients could cause a major damage.

The chief minister directed Punjab Health Minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed to get prepared a detailed report on the availability of instruments, provision of medicines and posting of doctors in the emergency wards of all hospitals in the province.

Earlier, he took a round of the emergency ward of the Lahore General Hospital, its store room, operation theatre and wards, seeking details of the treatment to patients from duty doctors.

The chief minister expressed his dissatisfaction over the sanitation and treatment arrangements in the hospital, directing the medical superintendent to improve the state of affairs there.

The medical superintendent angered the chief minister when on an inquiry he said that the hospital had four ventilators but a doctor explained that only one of them was functioning.

The chief minister was surprised to know that the hospital had no MRI machine for scanning brain despite having the speciality of treating head injuries.

He directed the health minister to purchase an MRI machine, six new ventilators and six cardiac monitors within one month. He also asked the doctors to immediately operate patients waiting surgery.

The chief minister expressed his surprise over the condition of the building of the emergency ward and directed the health minister to prepare a plan for its reconstruction.

Meanwhile, the chief minister inquired after those injured in the Malakwal train accident and directed the medical superintendent to provide them with free medical care.

The chief minister talked to the relatives of patients and young doctors and assured them early resolution of their problems.