LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmeen Rashid has said that the Prime Minister’s Health Initiative is being launched in eight major districts of the province at a cost of Rs8 billion to facilitate patients in hospitals.

In this regard, emergency, nursery and other sections of regional health centres, basic health units and THQ hospitals will be developed on modern lines.

Addressing a press conference at DGPR office here on Monday, she said health centres situated at Attock, Mianwali, Jhang, DG Khan, Chiniot, Lodhran, Kasur and Rajanpur would be transformed in the first phase to provide best healthcare facilities to patients.

She regretted that child mortality rate reached an alarming level owing to lack of necessary facilities.

The successive governments did not care for public hospitals except minting money, she said adding that due to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, health centres of eight districts would be provided with facilities.

“Along with doctors, parents would have to play their role of administering anti-polio drops to their children to eradicate virus, said Dr Yasmin Rashid.

She said the anti-polio campaign was launched in four districts from Monday and the children would be administered drops.

After the upgradation of health centres, medical services would be provided round the clock and 100 per cent availability of medicines would be ensured in hospitals under the health initiative.

She said budget for recruiting 2,000 staff was approved to end the shortage of doctors and other staff in hospitals of rural areas.

In the first phase, the project of basic health facilities would be completed in June this year and BHUs would be made functional round the clock by April 30.

She said institutions were being strengthened under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and it has been directed that patients should be given treatment facilities in the same hospital instead of transferring them to other health institutions.

Replying to media’s questions, she said: “Every effort is being made for the treatment of Nawaz Sharif in Jinnah Hospital.”

The previous government ruined the institutions during the last 30 years, she alleged. “Had the hospitals’ conditions been improved with diligent efforts, they and their children would have no need to go abroad for treatment,” said the health minister.

Three senior professors with sound academic record had been deputed for the treatment of Nawaz Sharif, she added.

The minister said Sehat Sahulat Cards were being introduced in the entire Punjab from Feb 22 which would help provide relief to the people living below the poverty line.

They would be able to get the facility of free medical treatment up to Rs720,000. In the second phase, the government would also introduce Sehat Sahulat Card for the salaried stratum, Dr Yasmin Rashid said.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2019