Health reforms: Forecast procurement requirements, Health Dept officials asked

LAHORE:

Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique on Saturday directed district authorities on Saturday to complete forecasting annual procurement requirements to ensure the availability of all essential medicines across health facilities.

Rafique gave out the directive while chairing a monthly meeting of EDOs at the Health Services Directorate General. Taking notice of reporting issues regarding e-vaccinations, he directed officials to ensure strict compliance. Rafique also directed the EDOs to initiate disciplinary proceedings in case of further negligence. He also instructed the officials to devote special attention to cleanliness standards across hospitals and unexplained absences.

Officials affiliated with the Chief Minister’s Health Reforms Roadmap presented a data analysis of key performance indicators on the occasion. Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary Ali Jan Khan said the department may look into devolving power to facilitate greater accountability and improve performance across the division-level.

Health Services DG Mukhtar Hussain Syed directed the EDOs to complete and present lists of paramedics and allied staff for rationalisation of promotions in accordance with procedures. He said his office had formulated a disease calendar to forecast and prepare beforehand in case of any untoward situation. He asked the officials to plan their operations on a monthly basis. Syed also instructed them to share data regarding general practitioners to facilitate regular sharing on alerts with them.

Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Director Munir Ahmed directed the Lahore, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur to finalise preparations with regard to the Sub-National Immunisation Day set to commence on February 15. Officials posted in districts showing marked discrepancies between the first dose (BCG) and measles-1 were instructed to improve performance standards there. Ahmed said the nation was at the cusp of getting rid of maternal and neonatal tetanus. He said international experts were slated to look into this in April.

Ahmed said there was a dire need of improving measles reporting. He said steps should be taken across districts with large numbers of high-risk gypsies to improve their registration.

Officials associated with the Dengue Control Programme presented a data analysis from various cities. They said attention had to be focused on areas where dengue was repeatedly reported. The officials said medics trained to treat dengue should be specially employed for the dengue unit.

The state of swine flu across the province was also reviewed on the occasion. The health secretary told officials that an adequate amount of Tamiflu tablets was available. He directed the EDOs to ensure that all those employed across health facilities were vaccinated against H1N1. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2016.