LAHORE: A high-level meeting was held on Monday with Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in the chair. The meeting reviewed progress on different reforms initiated in the health sector as well as ongoing programs of providing quality healthcare facilities to the people.
While addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that merit has been promoted at every level in the province by the Punjab government and added that implementation of merit policy for admissions in private medical colleges would also be ensured.
“I have neither violated the merit policy till today nor have allowed anybody to do so. Merit is the only option for qualitative improvements in the medical sector.” He said that steps should be proposed to regulate the private medical colleges with mutual consultations and a suitable way forward should be adopted to regulate them.
He directed for third-party inspection to be held at private medical colleges. He said that all the concerned departments are totally empowered and they will have to perform their duties diligently. Their effective steps would be welcomed for the solution of problems, he added. He said that special incentive package will be given to addressing the lack of M.Phil and Ph.D. degree holders in the health sector. In this regard, the health department should ensure implementation on the proposals presented to it.
The chief minister also said that record funds have been allocated for the health sector in the upcoming fiscal year and announced that all available resources will be provided for improvement in healthcare facilities. Funds would be provided even at great personal deprivation.
He said that recommendations be presented to further improve the system of medical examination and directed to constitute a committee in this regard. He said the self-fulfillment in service to ailing humanity cannot be described in words. Therefore, concerned departments and the people attached to the health sector should serve the ailing with hard work and passion.
He said that Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has presented a wonderful plan to eradicate the viral diseases and directed that this plan should be implemented at every cost. The anti-dengue model should be followed for the eradication of viral diseases, he added.
Provincial Ministers Kh. Salman Rafiq, Kh. Imran Nazir, Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Advisor Dr. Umer Saif, MPA Mukhtar Ahmed Bharat, Chairman P&D and administrative secretaries of concerned departments attended the meeting; Chief Secretary participated through a video link.
