Punjab Health Minister Khalil Tahir Sindhu said on Wednesday that reforms would be introduced in the healthcare system according to the people’s needs and in line with the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif’s vision, while addressing the concluding session of a two-day long Health Sector Reforms Conference at the CM’s Office.
He added that the recommendations presented by experts during the conference would play a key role in this regard, and also stressed that good strategies, efficient use of resources and dedication would be needed.
Sindhu said that the conference’s speakers had delivered thought provoking speeches and given important recommendations for health sector reforms. He said that the Health Department would strive to create a practicable healthcare system which would fulfill the needs of the people.
The health minister said that the senior doctors’ experience and young doctors’ passion would jointly benefit humanity, adding that if the provincial government succeeded in providing clean drinking water to the people it could 40 percent of diseases, thus reducing the load on hospitals.
Replying to a question, Sindhu said that measles was not prevalent in Pakistan alone, even developed countries like the UK faced it, referring to the measles outbreak in Wales. He informed that the Punjab government has taken solid steps to control the disease and to provide the best medical treatment to measles patients.
While addressing the conference, Health Secretary Hassan Iqbal said that participating experts from different sectors such as medical teachers, health managers and international partners have turned the conference into a great success. He said that the time had come to change the present health system, but it would not be easy because human nature does not accept change easily. While responding to a question, he disclosed that a case of diphtheria had been reported in Sindh, and the Punjab Health Department had written to the federal government to take prompt action to control the disease and prevent it from being transferred to Punjab, as was the case with measles.
Replying to another question, the secretary said that private medical colleges and hospitals would be made responsible to the law. He said that private medical colleges should either arrange house jobs for their graduates or they should pay the Health Department for providing training opportunities in government hospitals.
He said that the final decision on that front would be decided according to the law.
