LAHORE, Jan 18: The Punjab government on Friday promulgated the ‘Punjab Medical and Health Institutions Ordinance, 2002’, giving autonomous character to medical and health institutions.

“The ordinance is aimed at establishing and improving medical and health institutions and giving them an autonomous character in order to provide quality and affordable healthcare to the poor and vulnerable sections of the society as well as enhancing the quality of education in health sciences in the province,” a handout said.

The ordinance will come into force with immediate effect while the Punjab Medical and Health Institutions Act, 1998, stands repealed.

“The administration and the management of the affairs of a medical institution shall vest in a board of governors appointed by the government.

“The board of a medical institution shall be the principal governing body of the institution and shall consist of chairman, official and non-official members. The official members will include secretaries of finance and health and the principal executive officer of the institution.

“Five non-official members would be included form amongst the educationists, eminent jurists, financial experts, philanthropists, management experts and distinguished retired civil and military officers.

“The board of governors shall appoint a whole-time principal executive officer of the medical institution which shall hold the office of the dean. The PEO will be responsible for the appointment of officers and employees of the institution.

“The services of existing employees of the institutions shall be transferred to the institution on terms and conditions which shall not be less favourable than those admissible to them immediately before their transfer to the institution. They shall, however, continue to be the employees of the government, liable to be transferred to the government by the institution, unless absorbed in the service of the institution,” the handout said..