By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed authorities to prepare a new and updated list of medicines for government hospitals and to constitute a committee for this purpose. The directives were issued during a special meeting chaired by the chief minister to review the progress of health projects in the province.
The meeting decided to impose a ban on the use of mobile phones by doctors and nurses during duty hours in government hospitals. It was also agreed in principle to equip security guards, ward boys, nurses and pharmacy staff with body cameras to enhance accountability and curb misconduct.
The chief minister ordered that complete steam cleaning of all government hospitals must be ensured daily before 9am. The meeting also reviewed proposals to equip public hospitals with modern medical equipment and considered granting permission for the use of Chinese-manufactured medical devices.
Taking serious notice of public complaints, Maryam Nawaz directed strict action against security companies and guards deployed in hospitals. She also ordered the adoption of a foolproof mechanism to ensure uninterrupted availability of medicines in public healthcare facilities.
The meeting approved the establishment of an MS Pool in Punjab, with salary increases linked strictly to performance. It was also agreed to assign community health inspectors the responsibility of conducting hospital surveys.
To assess the effectiveness of public welfare initiatives in the health sector, the chief minister ordered the establishment of a data analysis centre. During the briefing, officials informed the meeting that more than 2,500 doctors have been provided jobs in Punjab within the past two years.
It was further shared that 585,000 patients across the province have been registered for home delivery of cardiac medicines, while medicines have been delivered at the doorsteps of 6,000 hepatitis and tuberculosis patients.
Expressing concern, Maryam Nawaz said that despite allocating Rs80 billion for medicines, the non-availability of drugs in hospitals is unacceptable. She stressed that public money and time will no longer be wasted and warned that incompetent and negligent staff will be removed.
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