LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary & Secondary Health (P&SH) Khawaja Imran Nazir on Thursday said that the provincial government had taken exemplary steps for the provision of better health facilities to the people at government hospitals.
He stated this while talking to media representatives during his surprise visit to the Government Samanabad Hospital and Government Mian Mir Hospital here. He also observed the stock of medicines in the store.
Punjab Health Facilities Management Company (PHFMC) Chief Executive Muhammad Ali Amir, Additional Secretary (Technical) Dr Asim Altaf, Health CEO Dr Shahnaz, District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Faisal, Dr Sallahuddin and Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Shahbaz were also present on the occasion.
The minister said that the performance of Government Samnabad Hospital had improved significantly as compared to it was six months ago and the turnout of the patients visiting outdoor and emergency of the hospital has increased manifold.
He observed that PHFMC was running the administrative affairs of the hospital satisfactorily due to which the confidence of the patients had also increased.
PHFMC Chief Executive Muhammad Ali Amir informed that the breast clinic for the diagnosis of breast cancer would soon be established at the hospital and a mammography machine on the outsource model would also be installed.
MS Dr Shahbaz informed that the facility of general surgery was also being provided at the hospital and the number of delivery cases had also increased. Dr Shahbaz further said that on average thirty C-sections were being performed on a monthly basis.
Khawaja Imran Nazir appreciated the performance of the hospital and praised the efforts of the health CEO and PHFMC for making the hospital a patient-friendly institution.
Later, the minister also visited Government Mian Mir Hospital. He took a round of different wards of the hospital and inquired the patients about the facilities being provided there. He visited the hepatitis clinic and non-communicable disease control centre.
While visiting the OPD, the patients complained that the medicines in the outdoor were partially available and poor patients were facing great problems in this regard.
The minister asked the health CEO and MS to explain their position in connection with the unavailability of medicines, however, no satisfactory answers were given. The minister then directed Additional Secretary (Technical), Dr Asim Altaf, to conduct an inquiry within 48 hours.
Khawaja Imran Nazir said that a strict action would be taken against the person who was found responsible for the unavailability of medicines.
Later, the minister gave a warning to the hospital administration to get its act together and appropriate the matters of the hospital.
