LAHORE: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has issued a circular for all private hospitals across the province to allocate 35pc of the total beds for treatment of the flood victims.

“In the light of the ongoing flood crisis, all private hospitals operating in Punjab are hereby placed on Emergency High Alert with immediate effect and are directed to undertake the measures issued by the PHC,” reads the circular issued on Thursday.

The commission also directed the hospitals to provide free-of-cost treatment to the patients affected by flood, ensure availability of the required medicines with adequate stocks and make arrangements to handle emergencies. They would make available round-the-clock medical, nursing and support staff, including senior administrative officials.

“The emergency departments, ICUs and high dependency units must remain fully functional,” reads the circular.

The PHC directed the hospitals to keep all biomedical machines, ventilators, cardiac monitors, X-rays, ultrasound, CT Scan, MRI ect functional.

Special monitoring has been recommended to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

It directed the hospitals to prepare evacuation plans for transfer of patients in case of structural risks, ensuring coordination with nearby safe hospitals or temporary medical centres. It warned the hospitals that non-compliance would result in strict disciplinary action.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2025