ISLAMABAD: Minister for Health Abdul Qadir Patel on Wednesday inaugurated a basic health unit (BHU) in Golra, which would “cater to a population of at least 250,000”.

While speaking about the BHU, the minister said at least 200 people would visit the facility on a daily basis, adding that all the BHUs of the federal capital would be made functional and for this, a plan had been prepared so that people get health facilities at their doorstep.

The minister said there was “enormous pressure” on the tertiary care hospitals, such as the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic, and it would only decrease by making BHUs functional across the federal territory.

“I have decided to bring reforms in the health sector and all possible steps will be taken to achieve the target,” he claimed.

Health minister promises to make capital’s BHUs functional to ‘reduce burden’ on tertiary care hospitals

During his address, Mr Patel also suggested “establishing a medical board for the ‘mental evaluation’ of politicians”.

He said that renowned mental health experts should be included in the medical board to get “unbiased opinions” about the politicians.

“I cannot fathom how a person could consciously dissolve [Punjab and KP] assemblies and then start protesting against it...These things are not normal and Pakistan cannot afford such things,” Mr Patel said while speaking to the participants.

The minister said that he will try his best to establish a medical board and then will “invite some of the persons [politicians] to get them mentally evaluated” so that the country would start moving in a positive direction.

“The country should be brought out of the current situation and new projects should be started similar to this BHU,” he said.

Mr Patel said that he was already aware of the result of the medical board’s evaluation but all people may not agree with his [Mr Patel] views.

“So I want that there should be stamps of medical experts on the certificate. Such mental cases are dangerous for the country as the country needs constructive instead of destructive politics,” he said.

He said that there can be political differences among political parties but they should be resolved through dialogue rather than developing enmity among them.

“They are strange persons, sometimes they say that the United States had expelled them and other times blame someone else. They have been suffering because of their politics and I pray for them that may Allah bless them with good health,” he said without naming PTI chief Imran Khan and other party leaders.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2023