Health minister wants clean water at hospitals

Says free medicines must also be provided at emergency wards

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education (SH&ME) Khawaja Salman Rafique chaired a meeting of all the heads of medical educational institutions, medical superintendents of teaching hospitals and specialised healthcare institutions on Monday.

The meeting reviewed and evaluated the arrangements and steps taken for the provision of safe drinking water in hospitals and medical educational institutions, provision of free medicines in the emergency wards as well as infection control and hospital waste management in light of Supreme Court orders.

Secretary SH&ME Najam Ahmad Shah, Special Secretary Usman Mauzam concerned officers of the department, experts of the Public Health Department, WASA, Punjab Food Authority, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), vice chancellors of Medical Universities, principles of medical colleges and the medical superintendents and executive directors of teaching hospitals and specialized health facilities participated in the video link meeting.    Public Health chief engineer, a WASA technical expert and PCRWR briefed the participants on the method and SOPs of water quality checking, cleanliness of tanks and reservoirs, checking of resource and chlorination. Dr Rafia Haider of Punjab Food Authority said representatives had collected water samples from teaching hospitals for laboratory analysis.'



Secretary Health Najam Ahmad Shah directed the heads of medical institutions to conduct a survey/analysis of water resources of their institution/hospital. He said if there is any problem with regard to the water, action should be taken according to the recommendations of experts, either deep boring of the tube well or installation of water filtration plants.

He also ordered that a responsible official be deputed to watch and ward the provision of safe drinking water to patients and their attendants. He said that no compromise would be made on the provision of clean drinking water at medical educational institutions and hospitals.

The secretary warned the head of the institutions that an inspection team of the department or any other institution might visit the hospital randomly to check the quality of drinking water. Najam Ahmad Shah asked the participants of the meeting to ensure all the measures are taken within a month for this purpose. He added the heads of institutions have to submit a certificate to the Specialized Healthcare department on safe drinking water, free medicine in emergency wards and infection control.

The meeting reviewed arrangements and steps taken for the disposal of hospital waste management, functioning of incinerators and provision of free medicine. The heads of the institutions said 100% free medicine is being provided in the emergency wards of the hospitals. At the same time, outdoor and indoor department patients are getting medicine up to 80% free.

It was stated that some results of medicines are pending with the Drug Testing Laboratories (DTLs). However, the hospital management is in contact with the officials of DTLs for early lab tests.

Minister Health Khawaja Salman Rafique revealed that the Supreme Court has also directed the DTL to complete the laboratory test of pending medicines within a month. All the Teaching Hospitals spoke about the progress in waste management and installation of incinerators individually.

Secretary SH&ME Najam Shah asked the heads of the institutions to up matters related to clean drinking water, infection control and provision of free medicines in emergency wards seriously. He added every institution must form a committee to monitor all these arrangements regularly and submit a report to the head.

Khawaja Salman Rafique directed officers to ensure provision of clean drinking water and get guidance from the experts of the Public Health Department, PCRWR and WASA.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2018.