Health reforms: CM approves autonomous public health agency

Says performance of two health institutions unsatisfactory

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday approved the establishment of a public health agency at a meeting held to review various proposals for reorganisation of the Institute of Public Health and Directorate General of Health Services. Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that the Institute of Public Health and Directorate General of Health Services were vital for providing quality health facilities for the citizens.

“Reforms in both these institutions are the need of the hour,” he said.

The chief minister said research was the primary responsibility of the Institute of Public Health.

“It also provides technical assistance to the government,” he said. The chief minister said both these institutions were not performing efficiently. “Their performance is unsatisfactory and there need for basic reforms in these institutions.”

The chief minister said an autonomous public health agency would be modelled after the Punjab Forensic Science Agency.

He issued instructions to set up a steering committee and a project management unit for reforms in these institutions. The chief minister will head the steering committee. Parliamentary Secretary on Health Imran Nazir would be the head of project management unit.

Transplant authority

“The Punjab Human Organs Transplantation Authority (PHOTA) has approved 511 procedures. As many as 15 hospitals in Lahore and Rawalpindi are registered with the authority and are authorised to conduct kidney transplant surgeries. A mechanism would soon be evolved for action against hospitals not registered with the authority,” Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said on Wednesday.

Health Secretary Najam Ahmed Shah said regular inspection of registered hospitals for transplant procedures would be conducted.

“It will be mandatory for these hospitals to intimate the PHOTA 48 hours before such operations,” he said. Shah said the government wanted to ensure that no public hospital should conduct organ transplant surgeries without proper facilities.

Awais Leghari meets CM

National Assembly Member Sardar Awais Leghari called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday. Development and public welfare projects in south Punjab were discussed in the meeting.

Talking to the MNA, the chief minister said the provincial government had unrolled a comprehensive programme for development in south Punjab. He said Rs173 billion would be spent on this region.

“Several big projects, including the Multan Metro Bus, are nearing completion,” he said.

He said that south Punjab had been included in the first phase of Saaf Pani Project. “More than 80 water filtration plants have been installed in five tehsils,” he said.

The chief minister said that new roads were being constructed to provide modern travelling facilities to the people of tribal areas of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

“Progress of south Punjab and prosperity of its people is the priority of the government.” he said.

“Those criticising public welfare projects are enemies of progress and prosperity,” he said.

CM congratulates AJK president

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday felicitated Masood Khan on his election as president of Azad Kashmir. In a message, the chief minister expressed good wishes for the newly-elected president and expressed the hope that he would utilise his abilities for the progress and prosperity of the people of Azad Kashmir.

“Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has won with a majority in Azad Kashmir elections,” he said. “This is a huge responsibility and the party must serve the people selflessly.”

“Masood Khan is an experienced diplomat and has highlighted the Kashmir issue on international forums,” he said.

He said Khan would continue to represent the people of Kashmir for resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with UN resolutions.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2016.