LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed the authorities concerned to install biometric machines in hospitals to ensure attendance of doctors, medical staff and nurses.

Presiding over a meeting here on Wednesday, she said the hospital administrations should not sit in offices. She ordered strict implementation of monitoring measures by using modern technology, including geo-tagging of drug stores and medicine shops.

“Presence of doctors and medical staff in every public sector hospital should be ensured. We have decided to impose fines, imprisonment and closure of businesses involved in selling fake, substandard and spurious medicines,” the chief minister said.

She also approved a programme to improve mother and child health, and emergency facilities in government hospitals of Punjab.

“Supply of all emergency treatment medicines, and life-saving equipment should be made a top priority,” she said.

About the death of eight newborns in a fire erupting in Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, the CM said: “We all are responsible for this and we must be answerable.”

She constituted a three-member committee headed by provincial government adviser Azhar Kayani into the matter. “After determining the responsibility, the people involved should be put behind the bars,” she added.

She also directed the authorities concerned to rectify weaknesses in the vaccination campaign.

The CM also approved increase in the number of field hospitals to 105, and ordered officials concerned to ensure implementation of the scheme in all tehsils of the province.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2024