Spurious drugs samples sent abroad for tests

CM says govt will procure CT scan machines to provide round-the-clock services

LAHORE: Punjab government has sent samples of medicines abroad for testing to ensure only genuine drugs reach the market and consumed by the patients.



Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said this on Sunday while chairing a meeting to review progress on the steps taken to improve the healthcare delivery system and for reforming the health sector. “This is being done to devise a transparent system for purchase and delivery of medicines and to eradicate the menace of spurious drugs,” he added.

The CM vowed that provision of quality and modern medical facilities to people was his mission that will be fulfilled at all costs. “With hard work and determination steps are being taken to improve the healthcare system,” he added.



He said the government would ensure state-of-the-art healthcare facilities in Punjab and necessary measures were being taken to improve the system. He added the recently launched National Health Insurance Programme was proving to be successful.

The CM said the government was planning to procure CT-Scan machines for every district hospital of the province to provide round-the-clock medical services to the patients.

Shehbaz said the government was also working on addressing shortage of nephrologists in the province. He said mobile ambulances to be introduced in nine divisions of the province would add to the outreach of rescue services and help transport patients to hospital in time.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2017.