QUETTA: The provincial health secretary has asked the owners of private hospitals to increase the number of intensive care units (ICUs), high dependency units (HDUs) and beds and ensure regular supply of oxygen.

“From May 3 two mobile units are being launched for the convenience of the public for getting vaccination of Covid-19. Older people along with their national identity cards should visit these mobile units and get themselves vaccinated,” Noorul Haq Baloch said while chairing a meeting of the Private Hospital Regulatory Authority.

The health secretary asked the owners of private hospitals to increase the number of ICUs, HDUs and beds and ensure regular supply of oxygen and set up oxygen plants.

The additional health secretary directed the owners of private hospitals to update the government about the number of patients, beds and ventilators on a daily basis.

About the coronavirus vaccine, the secretary said that the presence of vaccination room and ice line refrigerator in private hospitals for initiating Covid-19 vaccination should be ensured in accordance with the principles laid down by the health department.

After examination and appro­val vaccine centres will be set up in private hospitals and they will be allowed to administer vaccines. Free vaccine will be provided by the health department to these centres.

The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Health Ghu­lam Farooq Murree, Additional Secretary Health M. Naeem Bazai, Director Technical Dr Amin Khan Mandokhel, Head of Opera­tions Cell Dr Naqibullah Niazi, Dr Sarmad Saeed Khan, Deputy In-charge Morning Shift Operation Cell Dr Zaheer Ahmad Kakar, Provincial Coordinator of EPI Dr Ishaq Panezi, Director of Private Hospital Regulatory Authority Dr Nasreen, Provincial Focal Person for Vaccines Dr Anjum Zia and the owners of private hospitals.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2021