LAHORE: In a long-awaited decision, the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department finally issued a notification on Monday to fully implement the “Hub and Spoke Project” under which the tertiary care hospitals will be linked with primary level facilities.

According to the notification, the referral system will be launched through linking of medical universities with Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHD).

The department will be responsible for administrative matters related to Hub and Spoke model.

The DHQ Hospital Mianwali, DHQ Hospital Chakwal, THQ Hospital Kalabagh, THQ Hospital/Trauma Centre Kallar Kahar and Trauma Centre Nila Dullah have been linked with the Rawalpindi Medical University.

Doctors from medical varsities will treat patients, provide training to medics in DHQ, THQ hospitals

DHQ Hospital Jhang, DHQ Hospital Chiniot and THQ Hospital Tandlianwala have been linked with Faisalabad Medical University.

DHQ Hospital Khanewal, THQ Hospital Jahanian and Trauma Centre Makhdoom Aali are linked with Nishtar Medical University.

According to the notification, responsibilities have been assigned to the vice chancellors of the respective universities.

Under the scheme, the VCs will monitor the attendance of doctors/PGRs in the respective hospitals.

They will be responsible for feasibility reports and approval for blood banks established in the respective DHQs and THQ hospitals.

The VCs will identify further medical facilities in consultation with the MS of the respective DHQs and THQ hospitals.

The P&SHD will arrange transportation and accommodation for doctors. It will install HMIS system in the respective hospitals to ensure the treatment of patients.

A committee has also been formed with Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid in the chair to review the Hub and Spoke model.

The committee will comprise secretary specialised healthcare and medical education department, secretary P&SHD, special secretaries, DG Health Services, Punjab, and deputy director Health Information and Service Delivery Unit.

“The Hub and Spoke model is an important step towards ensuring better treatment of patients in selected hospitals”, the Punjab health minister said.

Under the project, she said, the doctors from medical universities will perform their duties in DHQs, THQ hospitals and trauma centres.

The doctors from medical universities will treat patients as well as provide professional training to doctors stationed at DHQs, THQ and trauma centres.

The first hub and spoke model is being launched in Rawalpindi Medical University, Faisalabad Medical University and Nishtar Medical University, she said.

The model has been launched before the current financial year. Efforts are being made to provide better treatment facilities to the patients coming in the government hospitals of Punjab.

She said there will be a visible improvement in IT infrastructure, provision of ambulances, doctors residences, laboratory services, radiology services, operating theatres, day care centres, community outreach centres, financial autonomy and HR allowances in government hospitals connected through hub and spoke model.

“After the success of Hub and Spoke model in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan divisions, this project will be scaled up to the provincial level,” Prof Yasmin Rashid said.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2022