Provincial Minister for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Salman Rafiq expressed indignation over slow pace of construction work on Teaching Hospital Gujranwala and directed to accelerate the speed of work on the project.
He said that no negligence and delay will be tolerated in development work. He said that Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has provided billions of rupees and was taking personal interest in the project. There was no shortage of funds and the work should be carried out on the project in two shifts for completing the project in stipulated period so that timely provision of health facilities could be ensured to the people and load of patients reduced on District Headquarters Hospital, he added.
He expressed these views during a briefing on construction project of new DHQ hospital adjacent to Gujranwala Medical College. Deputy Commissioner Amir Jan, Special Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Punjab Dr Sajid Chohan, Deputy Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. Farukh and Principal Medical College Dr Aftab Mohsin besides officers of Communication and Works Department were present on the occasion.
Building SE Sajid Amin while giving briefing informed the minister that Punjab chief minister has provided funds of Rs 700 million for 500 beds DHQ teaching hospital to be constructed at a cost of Rs 2415 million. He said that work was continuing on the project and its first phase would be completed by December 2017 and OPD will also be made functional. The minister directed the Gujranwala DC to submit report after conducting inquiry into delay of the project. He directed the DC to personally supervise all the matters and also check speed of work so that this public welfare project could timely be completed.
Earlier, the minister inspected different wards during his one-hour long visit to DHQ Hospital Gujranwala and asked the patients and their attendants about provision of medicines and other facilities. He took round of OPD, ICU, Central Pharmacy, Cardiac Unit, Dialysis Unit, PCR Lab and Diagnostic Center. He directed for repair of out of order CT scan machine and made functional within one week besides installation of new MRI machine at the earliest.
Chamber of Commerce President Saeed Ahmed Taj informed the minister that building was being constructed for installing new CT Scan machine in DHQ Hospital with the cooperation of Patient Welfare Society and Chamber of Commerce. He said that machine has reached Karachi and will soon be made functional. The minister directed the hospital administration to ensure timely provision of medicines and treatment facilities to the patients in accordance with the policy and vision of the government. He said that complaints of the poor patients should be addressed at the earliest.
Later, the Minister paid a detailed visit to cardiac ward and children ward and talked to special doctors and in charge wards. He said that it is duty of officials and doctors to display exemplary performance in health sector in view of government planning and funds of billions of rupees. He said that Health Department was at the top of the list with regard to good governance and directed to update all the public service arrangements.
