Punjab govt’s contribution to health, education exemplary: CM

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Punjab government has utilized billions of rupees during the last four and half years for the development of health sector and provision of modern treatment facilities to the patients. He said that the salaries of young doctors had been increased substantially while reforms had been introduced in the service structure of doctors. He said new hospitals and medical colleges had been set up and now it was the responsibility of doctors to serve the ailing humanity with commitment and dedication.

He expressed these views while addressing a high level meeting at Model Town. Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Special Assistant Khawaja Salman Rafique, Dr Saeed Elahi, health secretary, vice chancellors of medical universities and others were present on the occasion. Improvement of healthcare system was discussed in detail during the meeting. The CM said the Punjab government had made tireless efforts for the uplift of education and health sectors as well as for the improvement of law and order and solid measures had been taken so that modern educational and health facilities could be available to the masses. He said that doctors belonged to a sacred profession adding that the Punjab government had provided free medicines to the poor and deserving patients in government hospitals. He said that air-conditioners had been installed in general wards for the benefit of poor patients at a cost of Rs 2 billion. He said that a 410-bed hospital was in the final stages of completion in Bahawalpur while cardiac surgery has been started in Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology. He said that this state-of-the-art hospital was even better than Punjab Institute of Cardiology. He said that new hospitals were being constructed in Sargodha and Lodhran while a kidney centre was being built in Multan. He stressed upon senior doctors to spare no effort in the service of ailing humanity and ensure provision of free medicines on priority basis to poor and deserving patients.