Health Week launched in Punjab

LAHORE: Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Punjab on Monday has launched a Health Week in the province for screening and vaccination of more than 700,000 people on directions by the Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The Health Week will continue till October 26.

Punjab caretaker Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr. Jamal Nasir said on Monday that free screening will be done for eight diseases including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV besides free vaccination.

He said that a total of 587 health facilities, including 27 district headquarter hospitals, 125 tehsil headquarter hospitals, 327 rural health centres and 108 basic health units will extend screening and vaccination services to the people in all the districts of Punjab, the minister said. Apart from this, free screening of TB, blood sugar and free check-up of pregnant women will also be done, he added.

Minister reviews steps to improve hospitals

The Provincial Caretaker Health Minister Prof Dr Javed Akram while chairing a meeting of the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department here on Monday reviewed the measures to improve the conditions of government hospitals across the province.

Special Secretary Operations Raja Mansoor Ahmed and Additional Technical Secretary Dr Hafiz Shahid Latif participated in the meeting. Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Masood Gondal, Nishtar Medical University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Rana Altaf, Faisalabad Medical University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zafar Chaudhry and Rawalpindi Medical University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Umar also attended the meeting.

In the meeting, consideration was also given to making the principals more empowered. Special secretary operations and additional technical secretary briefed the provincial health minister in this regard.

PHF provides hefty loans to doctors

Provincial Health Minister Prof Dr Javed Akram said that Punjab Health Foundation (PHF) provided interest-free loans worth millions of rupees to doctors every year. He said this while chairing the 35th meeting of the Board of Directors of PHF here on Monday.

Special Secretary Operations Raja Mansoor Ahmed, Additional Secretary Admin Zahida Azhar, Additional Secretary Finance Shahida Farrukh, Prof Dr Mahmood Shaukat and other officials participated in the meeting.

Dr Javed Akram approved the minutes of the 34th meeting of the Board of Directors of Punjab Health Foundation. He also approved the decisions of the 87th meeting of the Finance and Technical Committee. SOPs were also reviewed in detail with reference to provision of loans of Punjab Health Foundation.