- CM orders health dept to devise mechanism to monitor, audit hospitals
- CM expresses satisfaction over progress of Healthcare Sector Reforms Programme
- World Bank’s CEO assures cooperation in development projects
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed strong displeasure over the implantation of unregistered stents and ordered that the pharmacies should be opened in Mayo and Jinnah hospitals for the provision of stents and other disposable items in cardiology wards.
The chief minister expressed these views while presiding over a meeting to review the report of implantation of unregistered stents which was presented by the chairman of Chief Minister Inspection Team (CMIT).
Minister (Healthcare) Salman Rafique, the additional chief secretary, secretary (health), King Edward Medical University’s vice-chancellor and the other high officials attended the meeting.
The CM took notice of negligence of Drug Regulatory Authority, the department did not perform their duties amicably with regard to unregistered stents, he added. The chief minister ordered to conduct comprehensive audit of the hospitals and patted the administration of Multan Institute of Cardiology and Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology for purchasing registered stents for their patients.
The chief minister ordered that immediate steps should be taken to improve the efficiency of the health department, “we will have to set our house in order first; and in this regard, observance of duty would also have to be ensured” he added. The CM said that the government has provided resources to the tune of billions of rupees for the provision of healthcare facilities to a common man, and a monitoring system could ensure an effective utilisation of these resources.
The CM further said that the association of the mafia with regard to unregistered stents would be eliminated, “no mafia can be developed when an effective monitoring system is in place”, he added.
The chief minister directed the implementation of a consensus policy with regard to use of stents and only registered stents should be used for patients in the hospitals.
Sharif said that the health department should devise a mechanism to fully monitor the situation.
CMIT’s chairman informed the meeting that the enquiry committee has inspected the purchase of stents in some of the hospitals and the record has been audited.
Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting to review the progress of Punjab Healthcare Sector Reforms Programme launched in collaboration with Turkey’s health ministry.
Turkish DG (health) Dr Oner Gunar, Turkish medical experts Dr Hesan Cagil, Minister (Health) Salman Rafique, Advisor Dr Umer Saif, additional chief secretary, Planning and Development Department’s chairman, health secretaries and high officials attended the meeting. Provincial Minister Kh. Imran Nazir attended the meeting through video-link from the office of commissioner Gujranwala. `
The chief minister expressed satisfaction over a speedy implementation of the programme.
While addressing the meeting, Sharif said that cooperation provided by Turkey to improve health care system would bear positive results as it would ensure quality health care services to the patients.
The CM said that medicine supply chain management system has been launched in collaboration with Turkey and the Turkish model would be reviewed for the construction of the new hospitals under public private.
The chief minister said that the provision of best health care services to common masses is basic right, “I will not sit idle till the provision of quality health care services to common masses”, he added.
European Union and International Relations’ Director General Dr Oner Gunar assured that speedy implementation of the programme in health sector would be ensured.
World Bank’s CEO calls on Shehbaz Sharif
Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank Kristalina Georieva, during a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, appreciated the performance, efforts and initiatives taken by the chief minister.
She said, “6 cent and tariff in 100-megawatt solar project is a wonderful achievement; for which I congratulate you”.
The CEO assured that World Bank would provide necessary cooperation in development projects.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanweer Hussain called on Punjab Chief Minster Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
The chief minister, on the occasion, said that the country has no place for sectarianism, fanaticism and terrorism, “the establishment of Pakistani society is based on the principles of tolerance, harmony and peaceful co-existence and that is our mission” he added.
The CM said that thousands of Pakistanis have sacrificed their lives in war against terrorism and the armed forces have extricated the menace of terrorism, and the composite steps have proved fruitful for the elimination of terrorism and fanaticism under the national action plan; and as a result, Pakistan has emerged as peaceful and secure country.
The CM also criticised the parties staging sit-ins and dharnas, “the defeated elements have been unnerved due to transparency in development projects and their speedy completion; that’s why, they are doing negative politics of baseless allegations”, he concluded.
