LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Saturday reviewed a five-year plan for the upgrade of health system and suggestions for the improvement of management of Rural Health Centers (RHCs) and dispensaries.

She approved phase-wise reforms in the health system and reviewed issues related to maternal and child health, including the provision of standard treatment facilities to them.

She also directed the authorities concerned to ensure that there should be no hospital in the province where doctors, paramedical staff, medicines and required medical equipment were not available.

She ordered formation of the Health Advisory Council comprising government officials, professionals and public representatives.

Ms Nawaz also called for a plan for the upgrade, construction and rehabilitation of BHUs and RHCs. Secretary C&W was asked to present mock designs of BHUs and RHCs in two weeks. She approved immediate provision of free medicines to patients. The chief minister also sought a field hospital plan to bring health facilities to the doorsteps of people. She said mobile health units should be sent to suburban areas and villages on scheduled days.

“Each mobile health unit will have medical officer, LHV, dispenser and other staff besides necessary medical equipment.”

Proposals for the establishment of medical center for the treatment of heart, cancer and other diseases in each district were also evaluated in the meeting.

“The best medical professionals and technical members should be included in the boards of management of public sector hospitals purely on merit,” she said.

The meeting said that a special hospital should be established to provide best cancer treatment facilities to poor patients.

Health Secretary Ali Jan gave a detailed briefing on a five-year plan for the upgrade of health department. Maryam’s aide Pervaiz Rashid, MPAs Maryam Aurangzeb, Khwaja Salman Rafiq and Khwaja Imran Nazir were also present in the meeting.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2024