Health services: Public hospitals to stay open during Eid holidays

Teaching hospitals told to ensure attendance of senior administrative doctors and ancillary staff

LAHORE: Public hospitals will remain open round-the-clock during Eidul Azha holidays, a notification issued by the Health Department on Monday says.

The notification also issues instructions to follow standard operating procedures.  “All administration officials and doctors on duty have been asked to provide medical cover including standby arrangements for medical, surgical or special care expected in an emergency situation,” Akhlaq Ali Khan, a spokesperson for the Health Department, said.

He said they had also been directed to ensure that senior administrators and medical staff were on duty. Hospital staff has also been instructed to prepare emergency duty rosters, emergency situation crises management plans, stock up on lifesaving drugs, vaccines, disposables, bio-medical equipment, machines and ensure standby generators.

The Health Department has also issued instructions to principals of autonomous medical intuitions in the province, the health services director general, the Lahore health services director, medical superintendents of teachings hospitals, heads of health institutions, health executive district officers and medical superintendents of DHQ and THQ hospitals in the province to provide prompt healthcare services in Eidul Azha days.

The spokesman said surgeons, specialists, technicians, nursing staff and other health personnel would also be on call. “They would not be allowed to leave the station without permission.”

Khan said emergency wards of all public hospitals would be on high alert during Eid holidays while doctors, nurses and paramedical staff have been instructed to remain vigilant in case of an untoward incident.

The notification says that the Health Department has directed the pro-vice chancellor of the King Edward Medical University, the chairperson of Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex, Lahore, principals of autonomous medical institutions, medical superintendents of all teaching, DHQ and THQ hospitals as well as all health EDOs to ensure presence of senior administrative doctors and the ancillary staff of their respective institutions in the coming week.

They have been told to ensure fully functional operation theatres and ambulances along with trained staff.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2016.