RAWALPINDI, Nov 19: The Punjab Health department has directed immediate repair of defective electro-medical equipment of the district and tehsil headquarters hospitals throughout the province.

The DHQ and the THQ hospitals have been directed to prepare inventories of the repairable electro-medical equipment available with them. The Punjab government would then in consultation with the executive district officers (health) prioritise the machinery needing repair.

Health minister Prof Mehmood Ahmed talking to this reporter said plans for upgradation of the THQ hospitals in the province were being pursued with full vigour. He said as he was preparing to relinquish his charge sometime next week, he was trying to get the building designs of the upgraded THQ hospitals approved.

The other priority at the moment, he said, was getting specialist doctors appointed in the THQ hospitals on a special package. He said recruitment committees were being finalised. Regarding the Basic Health Units, where doctors had been recently appointed, he said, the health department had started their evaluation.

To a question about the BoG of autonomous hospitals, Dr Mehmood said he had started meeting the chairmen to iron out the teething problems.

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the health department will be providing a grant of Rs60 million for the teaching blocks at the Holy Family Hospital this year.