RAHIM YAR KHAN: A sum of Rs60 billion will be spent on rural health centres (RHCs) and basic health units (BHUs) across the province next year for the treatment of flu, influenza, fever and minor operations.

This was stated by Punjab Health Minister Khwaja Salman Rafique during a visit to Shaikh Zayed Medical College Hospital (SZMCH) here on Thursday.

He visited Shaikh Zayed Hospital Cardiac Centre and Emergency and reviewed the ongoing upgrading and revamping projects in various wards.

He visited the patients at the hospital and reviewed the medical facilities. He said upgrade of local hospitals is being done to reduce patient load on big hospitals. He said Rs80bn would be spent on the upgrade of rural and basic health centres. A sum of Rs20bn has been allocated for the upgrade of district level hospitals.

Rs15bn have been released for the provision of facilities and upgrade of hospital wards.

PML-N district general secretary Mian Imtiaz Ahmed along with the SZMCH principal briefed the minister about the site of incomplete Sheikh Hameeduddin Hakimuddin Hakim Surgical Tower (SHHST) project due to the alleged negligence of the contractor and other concerned departments.

However, the provincial minister didn’t reply to the questions of journalists about the halted civil work on Rs7 billion worth of SHHST for the last few years which was approved and started at SZMCH in the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government.

He warned that the contractor would face legal action for not completing the work in time.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2024