BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government has released Rs1.05 billion to provide free medicines to the patients at the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) in the current financial year.

BVH Medical Superintendent Dr Aamir Bokhari told Dawn on Sunday that the budget was meant to supply free medicines to the patients at the emergency ward and OPD but the institution was currently facing liabilities of Rs290 million which it would clear out of the amount. He said that despite financial constraints, free medicines would be provided to the patients.

Answering a question, he expressed his inability to provide medicines to the in-door patients. Efforts were being made, he said, to minimise burden of medicines on the patients.

He claimed that there was ample stock of medicines at the BVH emergency ward where more than 5,000 patients daily visit. He said the patients at the emergency ward and OPD were being given free medicines including life-saving drugs.

The medical superintended lauded the government’s Sehat card scheme under which 200 people daily get the benefit of free treatment at the hospital. He said the cardholders were administered treatment of any disease free of cost by producing their CNICs.

The increasing flow of the patients seeking treatment under the Sehat card initiative prompted the government to reactivate it, he said. He said it was equally helpful for the doctors who got their share out of the government expenses.

Dr Bokhari said the State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC) had paid Rs50 million to the BVH as its share of the last four months for treatment of patients.

He said the amount would be utilised for the betterment of the patients as well as human resource besides improvement of sanitation and potable water facilities.

He said the BVH had an ample stock of the anti-rabies vaccine and it had not refused treatment to any patient in need of the drug.

RELIEF GOODS: The divisional administration has dispatched six trucks laden with thousands of flour bags and dry ration in addition to other articles of use for the flood-affected people of Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and Taunsa Sharif.

The trucks have been sent under the supervision of Divisional Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar and Deputy Commissioner Zahid Parvaiz Warraich from commissioner’s office.

The commissioner and the deputy commissioner told media that more edible items and ration would be dispatched in the next few days.

Meanwhile, on the directive of COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Pakistan Army Corps 31 has established 10 flood relief camps in the city, says an ISPR press release. The camps are collecting edibles and other goods for transportation to Ahmedpur East and other places.

The relief camps have been set up at Fowara Chowk, Noor Mahal check post and other places in addition to Yazman city and adjacent Lodhran city. The Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran has also set up a relief camp in the city.

Meanwhile, expressing sympathy with the flood-affected people of Ahmedpur East tehsil, Prince Bahawal Abbasi demanded that people of around 100 villages around the Chenab river should also be given financial assistance. He said thousands of people had vacated their homes and moved to rural areas of Ahmedpur East.

ACCIDENT: A woman was killed while another person was injured when a coach hit their motorcycle on Stadium Road on Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Sammiya Bibi. Police impounded the coach and arrested the driver.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2022