Health Secretary Jahanzeb Khan directed all medical superintendents on Thursday to regularly visit various departments of their respective hospitals and enquire after the health of patients instead of sitting in their offices.
While presiding over a meeting to review the performance of hospitals and health facilities at Nankana Sahib, the health secretary said all Health executive district officers (EDO) would be required to submit a an assurance certificate to the department by August 21 regarding punctuality and presence of medical staff. He said after August 21, special teams would be sent to check the attendance of staff and stern action would be taken against irregular employees.
Discussing construction progress of Shah Kot Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, Khan said the project’s total cost was around Rs 165 million and so far, over Rs 60 million had been spent on it. He said construction of Sangla Hill THQ Hospital was also in its final phase and the estimated cost of the project was around Rs 148 million, of which, so far, Rs 65 million had been spent. The health secretary directed the authorities to complete both projects by December 31 and make the hospitals functional in January 2012.
Health EDO apprised the meeting of the shortage of specialists, medical officers and other paramedics in Nankana Sahib. The health secretary issued necessary instructions to the department officials to fill vacant positions and improve medical facilities in the district.
Expressing concern over the low rate of deliveries in the government hospitals despite the best infrastructure, trained staff and presence of hundreds of lady health workers (LHWs) in the district, Khan directed that the performance of lady doctors, LHWs and lady health visitors should be monitored and staff involved in promoting private clinics must be taken to task.
Additional Secretary (Estb) Dawood Khan Bareach, Addl Secretary (Dev) Usman Muazzam, Addl Secretary (Spl Initiatives), Asfand Yar Kakar, Addl Secretary (Tech) Dr Mushtaq Ahmad, Punjab Health Director General Dr Muhammad Aslam, Deputy Secretary Saleha Saeed, Provincial Coordinator FP & PH, Dr Akhtar Rashid Malik, MNCH Programme Provincial Coordinator Dr Sabeha Khursheed, Nankana Health EDO and other officers attended the meeting.
