Shahbaz approves historic health reforms

LAHORE
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday approved a revolutionary programme of comprehensive reforms in health sector for improving public facilities in the province.
The programme aims at reforms for developing public health facilities in all tehsil and district headquarters hospitals.
The chief minister was addressing a review meeting through video link at the Civil Secretariat. The meeting decided to immediately fill the approved vacancies of doctors and paramedical staff at tehsil and district headquarters hospitals, whereas approval was also given to recruitment programme on approved vacancies of specialist doctors.
The meeting also decided to give a special incentive package to the specialists and doctors posted at tehsil and district hospitals in backward and far-flung areas, while a target was fixed for ensuring 100 per cent provision of basic medicines in these hospitals by March 2015.
Shahbaz said provision of quality and modern treatment facilities to the masses was a top priority of the government, for which billions of rupees were being spent. He said a target had been set to make the defective machinery and equipment of tehsil and district headquarters hospitals operational by March, while the restoration work of necessary infrastructure would be completed by July.
Shahbaz said a special incentive package would be given to specialist doctors and medical officers working in tehsil and district headquarters hospitals of far-flung districts on the basis of their performance.
He directed to complete the recruitment process by April on merit and through transparency. He said a mechanism should be evolved for monitoring the supply, distribution and stock of medicines according to the requirements in the hospitals.
Shahbaz said an inventory control system of machinery and equipment should also be introduced at tehsil and district headquarters hospitals. He also directed to take immediate steps for introducing biometric system to ensure attendance of doctors and other staff.
He said the revolutionary reforms programme was of importance to provide quality health services to the people, adding that effective monitoring was required to ensure implementation of the planned steps. He also directed to set up complaint cells at all hospitals.
Earlier, the health secretary gave a detailed briefing on improving services and bringing reforms in the health sector.
Provincial Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Adviser on Health Kh Salman Rafique, Parliamentary Secretary Health Kh Imran Nazir, MPAs Rana Sanaullah, Qazi Adnan Farid, Dr Nadia Aziz, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, chief secretary, medical experts and senior officials attended the meeting.
suspension: Shahbaz Sharif ordered immediate suspension of the police officials concerned as he took strict notice of an incident in which twine injured a girl in Sheikhupura and some other cases of kite flying in the district as well as Lahore.
He directed the IGP to suspend the area DSPs and SHOs of Lahore and Sheikhupura where the incidents of kite flying took place and submit a report.
Shahbaz was addressing a meeting with regard to implementing the kite-flying law through video conference at the Civil Secretariat, which was attended by the IGP, home secretary, Lahore commissioner and RPO, DPO and DCO of Sheikhupura.
Expressing his anger, the chief minister ordered strict action against the violators and said he would not tolerate similar incidents in the future. He warned that in case of any complaint of kite flying, action would be taken against the police officers of those areas. He said action should also be taken against those dealing in kites and twine.