Policy priority: All resources to be provided for healthcare says Shahbaz

CM bans installation of swings after Sahiwal incident

LAHORE: All resources have been provided for the provision of quality and modern medical facilities to people, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday.

He was chairing a meeting on healthcare through video link.

“Billions of rupees have been allocated for the improvement of healthcare sector. Health professionals will have to fulfil their responsibilities,” he said.

Shahbaz Sharif said that he was visiting hospitals to review provision of health facilities.

Shahbaz Sharif said that provision of quality and modern health facilities to the people was the top priority of the government and billions of rupees have already been earmarked for this purpose.



He said that free medicines were being provided to the patients at all government hospitals every year. “There is no shortage of resources and if field officers work hard, the situation of hospitals can be changed,” he said.

The CM said doctors should wear a robe while performing their duty. “A comprehensive system should be evolved for the appointment of competent health EDOs in the province,” he said. The CM said that the chief secretary and health secretary should present their recommendations in this regard.

He said that cleanliness arrangements in the hospitals should be improved.

Sahiwal incident

The meeting also discussed the results of the inquiry ordered into the Sahiwal incident. As many as 110 people had been injured when a swing collapsed in a park in Sahiwal during Eid holidays. The CM had visited Sahiwal and inquired after the injured.

On Sunday, the CM ordered a complete ban on the installation of swings throughout the province until an effective mechanism was devised for the purpose.

“The chief secretary should evolve a system for monitoring the installation of swings and protective arrangements within next few days,” he said.

The chief minister ordered immediate suspension of the Sahiwal DCO in the light of inquiry report.

“Installation of swings without permission of the district administration is a question mark on its performance. People will not be allowed to play with the lives of innocent children for the sake of a few rupees,” he said.



The CM also expressed displeasure at the state of the Sahiwal district headquarters hospital.

“Cleanliness arrangements at the Sahiwal hospital were very bad,” he said. He ordered that the hospital MS be immediately suspended.

The chief secretary informed the meeting that financial assistance announced by the CM had been paid to the families of the children injured in the Sahiwal incident.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq, the Communication and Works, Public Prosecution and Health secretaries participated in the meeting through video link from the Civil Secretariat.

Minster for Zakat and Ushr Malik Nadeem Kamran, MNA Imran Ahmed Shah, the Sahiwal commissioner and Sahiwal RPO also participated in the meeting through video link from the Sahiwal Commissioner’s Office.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2016.