Doctors should adopt precautionary measures while providing treatment to Congo fever patients
Punjab Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Secretary Najam Ahmad Shah has directed the heads of teaching hospitals and specialised healthcare institutions to complete the process of outsourcing of janitorial services within a week. He said that no compromise would be acceptable on the cleanliness and hygiene conditions in the hospitals. He directed the principals of teaching hospitals and heads of specialised healthcare institutions to evolve a system for clinical audit of their institutions.
He stated this during a high-level meeting chaired by the Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Raffique.
Besides, Vice Chancellors of King Edward Medical University, Fatima Jinnah Medical University and University of Health Sciences, principals of medical colleges, heads of specialised healthcare institutions and medical superintendents of teaching hospitals attended the meeting.
While addressing the meeting, Kh Salman Raffique directed that as the eve of Eid-ul-Azha is coming soon, therefore, all the hospitals should remain alert for control and treatment of Congo fever. He directed that protocol and SOPs prepared by World Health Organisation (WHO) and other experts should strictly be followed in the treatment and the case management of Congo fever patients.
He directed that doctors and nurses should use personal protective gears during the treatment of even the suspected Congo patients and no laxity should be shown in this regard, as it might be dangerous for them as well.
Prof Faisal Masood informed that SOPs and protocol to differentiate Congo fever and dengue patients have been circulated among the hospitals and Dengue Expert Advisory Group has imparted training to the doctors and nurses. He observed that due to the rainy season, the breeding of dengue mosquitoes could be increased and there are chances of more dengue patients in the coming months, therefore, hospitals should remain vigilant and keep their HDUs (high dependency units) functional.
Health Secretary Najam Ahmad Shah directed the principals, medical superintendents and directors (Finance) to work proactively for the development of their hospitals.
Shah revealed that government has provided Rs 25 billion development budget for specialised healthcare institutions and an efficient use of these funds is the prime responsibility of each stakeholder. He added that medical superintendents have been empowered by giving them financial and administrative powers.
Medical superintendents can take disciplinary action up to 17-grade officers under the Civil Servant Act; moreover, they have been awarded powers of a Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO). He said that whosoever will have the authority, he will be answerable for that.
