Turkish model to be followed for provision of healthcare facilities: Shehbaz

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over a four-hours meeting which was also attended by a high level Turkish delegation headed by Adviser to Turkish Ministry of Health Hasan Cagil.

The meeting agreed to further enhance cooperation between Punjab government and Turkish Ministry of Health for reforms in healthcare system in the province. Turkish Ministry of Health will provide all-out cooperation for this purpose.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that brotherly and historical ties between Pakistan and Turkey were transforming into economic relation and cooperation between Punjab government and Turkish Ministry of Health for improvement in healthcare system in Punjab augurs well.

He said the Turkish model would be followed for providing quality healthcare facilities to the people of the province. He said the Punjab government would send nurses to Turkey for training, and added that in the first phase, nurses would be sent to Turkey for specialised training whereas in the second phase, nurses would get full training in Turkey.

Shehbaz Sharif said that Turkey had improved its healthcare system under the leadership of its ‘great leader’ Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Punjab government would also ensure provision of quality medical facilities to the citizens by benefiting from skill and expertise of Turkey.

He said that patients would be provided medical facilities, which is their right, through increasing cooperation with Turkey for uplift of healthcare system. He said that Punjab government had made tremendous work for reforms in health sector, but desired results would be achieved only when patients benefit from the system in the real sense.

The chief minister said the Punjab government had decided to outsource some services for eliminating mafia from the hospitals, and added that only those companies would operate CT scan machines in hospitals as would supply these machines and would also be responsible for their maintenance.

He said there were best doctors, nurses and paramedical staff but there is a lack of commitment and determination in achieving the desired results. He said that it is time to take steps in the real sense and serve the ailing humanity wholeheartedly.

Adviser to Turkish Ministry of Health Hasan Cagil gave a briefing in detail regarding improvement in healthcare system in Punjab and assured full cooperation with Punjab government for betterment of healthcare system. He said that the vision of Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is splendid.

The officials of Turkish Ministry of Health extended good wishes to Shehbaz Sharif on behalf of Turkish Minister for Health Tayyip Akhdon. Turkish Consul General Serdar Deniz, Provincial Ministers Zakiya Shehnawaz, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Adviser on Health Khawaja Salman, Parliamentary Secretary Imran Nazir, Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan, MPA Nadia Aziz, concerned secretaries and medical experts attended the meeting.