GUJRANWALA: The Punjab health department has initiated the process of outsourcing all rural hospitals in Gujranwala with the aim to improve service delivery in the underserved areas.

In the first phase, 31 out of the 93 rural health facilities have been handed over to private doctors on contracts, while preparations are underway to outsource the remaining 62 within this month.

According to official sources, the department intends to complete all necessary formalities within July, after which all rural health centres (RHCs) in the district would also be outsourced. Gujranwala has 12 RHCs, four of which are already under private management. The remaining eight are expected to be outsourced soon.

The hospitals had been handed over to private practitioners under strict supervision and their operations were being monitored by the officials from the department. Efforts are also underway to grant administrative autonomy to the district’s teaching hospitals under boards of governors (BoGs).

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2025