*CM Shahbaz vows to provide health facilities to masses
Real purpose of spending billions of rupees on the health sector cannot be achieved unless modern treatment facilities become available to the poor and deprived people living in far-flung areas of the country, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while addressing 2nd annual convocation of Sheikh Zayed Medical College in Rahim Yar Khan on Tuesday.
The chief minister said it is unfortunate that like other facilities of life, healthcare has also become limited to a specific segment of the society despite the fact that poor cultivators, low income government servants and factory workers have as much right over medical treatment as a minister, secretary, general or a judge.
He said that students showing outstanding performance have been awarded medals in the convocation but those who have not been able to win medals can earn the blessings of Allah by serving the ailing humanity in their professional life. He said that if the flaws of the system are not removed through evolutionary process, a revolution will take place and in order to avoid this disastrous situation every member of the society as well as the institutions will have to play their due role.
The chief minister said that the government spends millions of rupees from the public money on the education of medical students and it is the demand of honesty and sanctity of their profession that they should always be ready to serve the people. He said that the existing obsolete system has widened the gulf between the rich and the poor and if this system is not changed a heavy price will have to be paid.
The chief minister said that national resources have been looted mercilessly and despite spending billions of rupees on the health sector since the creation of Pakistan, the poor masses are still deprived of basic health facilities. He said that doctors should serve the ailing humanity with a spirit of service and commitment so that the destiny of the nation is changed and the country could achieve a prominent place in the comity of nations.
The chief minister also awarded medals and certificates to male and female students performing outstandingly in the academic field.