As per the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the government has released Rs 1 billion for the repair and maintenance of infrastructure of district and tehsil headquarters hospitals and all the EDOs Health have been asked to complete repair and maintenance work of the buildings of the hospitals by June 30. By implementing the Chief Minister’s Health Roadmap, visible improvement has been noticed in healthcare delivery system.
This was stated by Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister on Health Salman Rafique while presiding over a monthly EDO Health Conference at the Punjab Directorate General Health Services on Wednesday. He said that the government is implementing Chief Minister’s Health Roadmap Programme for the improvement and up-gradation of health facilities at district level including BHUs, DHQ and THQ hospitals. He said that strict monitoring system has been evolved in the province due to which the indicators are improving.
Secretary Health Jawwad Rafique Malik, Parliamentary Secretary Health Imran Nazir, Director General (DG) Health Dr Zahid Perviz, EDOs of all districts, representatives of WHO, UNICEF and Bill Gates Foundation, Chief Minister’s Health Roadmap Team, Director Health Sector Reforms Programme Ali Bahadar Qazi and directors of different programmes including EPI and CDC attended the meeting.
The secretary health directed the EDOs to submit a report regarding the medicines’ budget allocated by the district governments. He said that extra funds would be provided to those districts where the allocation is less than the required amount.
The secretary health further said that the Central Rate Contract Policy would be adopted from next fiscal year for the procurement of medicines for all districts. He announced immediate ban on posting and transfer and long leave of medical officers and women medical officers of BHUs, RHCs and district hospitals. He directed that a completion certificate would be obtained from all the EDOs along with the detail of medical equipment.
Salman Rafiq and secretary health welcomed the newly appointed WHO provincial chief Dr Salah Haithami and said that close cooperation between WHO and the Punjab government will further strengthen during the tenure of new provincial chief of WHO. They thanked the WHO for providing cooperation and assistance in disease prevention programme, training and third party evaluation of polio and routine immunisation coverage of EPI.
Rafiq lauded the services of outgoing WHO provincial chief Dr Obaidul Islam.