TAXILA: Punjab Secretary for Health and Population Nadia Saqib on Tuesday said the government had launched an ambitious Community Health Inspectors Programme by deploying 55,000 inspectors across the province to strengthen preventive healthcare and provide essential medical services at people’s doorsteps.
Addressing a training workshop for the newly-appointed health inspectors in Attock, she described the initiative as a major shift towards community-based healthcare aimed at improving early disease detection and reducing the burden on hospitals.
Deputy Director Khalid Sharif, Project Director PFPP retired Capt Usman, Additional Director PIU Dr Farrukh Amin, and Chief Executive Officer Health Attock Dr Asad Ismail also attended the workshop.
Ms Saqib said the programme would create a comprehensive digital health profile for every household, enabling timely diagnosis of diseases and maintaining complete electronic medical records.
“Patients requiring advanced treatment will be referred to the relevant healthcare facilities after initial screening,” she said, adding that the initiative would ensure healthcare services reach even the most underserved communities.
She said around 30 million people had already benefited from clinics-on-wheels and field hospitals established across the province.
She said the health inspectors would conduct basic diagnostic procedures, including blood sugar screening, administer injections where required, and educate families on disease prevention and healthy living.
Calling the initiative a transformative milestone, the secretary said Punjab’s women possessed the resilience, dedication and leadership needed to strengthen the province’s healthcare system and improve community well-being.
The newly recruited inspectors were briefed on their responsibilities, stressing the importance of professionalism, community outreach and effective service delivery in promoting public health at the grassroots level.
The participants also received training on field operations, community engagement, digital reporting systems and monitoring mechanisms designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of frontline health workers.
Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026
