ISLAMABAD: The administrations of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic have been directed by the Minister of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry to make Rural Health Centres (RHC) and Basic Health Units (BHU) operations in 10 days.

The Prime Minister’s Office had called all stakeholders in the health sector on June 27 and told them that the prime minister was not satisfied about the state of government health facilities and the quality of services in Islamabad for the last 15 years.

During the meeting, which was chaired by Secretary to the Prime Minister Fawad Hassan Fawad, it was decided to take measures for improving the health sector and decreasing the burden on government hospitals in the capital including Pims, Polyclinic and Capital Hospital.

It was also decided that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) will convert its dispensaries in I-10 and G-9 into fully staffed and functional Mother and Child Hospitals (MCH), with at least one paediatrician and a gynaecologist present and an MCH will be established in F-11 as well.

The CDA chairman will constitute a special committee to finalise the up-gradation of these dispensaries to MCHs and the establishment of new ones as well.

RHC Sihala, RHC Bahara Kahu, BHU Shah Allah Ditta and RHC Tarlai, which are under the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration, will also be converted into MCHs and will be attached with Pims.

After this, the CADD minister on July 4 directed Pims to send post graduates (PGs) to RHCs and Polyclinic to send its PGs to BHUs in order to provide health care to residents of nearby areas.

Polyclinic Executive Director Dr Iftikhar Ahmed Naro said arrangements were being made and that the BHUs will be operational in 10 days. He said 12 PGs from Polyclinic will be deputed at 11 BHUs and in one dispensary of the ICT administration and that two PGs will remain on standby in case these PGs need to go on leave.

“Because of this decision, some of the burden on government hospitals will be reduced and people will also be facilitated as they will be able to save time and money,” he said. “PGs from Pims will work in two shifts, the first from 8am to 2pm and the second from 2pm to 8pm, at seven RHCs,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2016