45 more medicine-related professions qualify for interest-free loans

Self-support scheme aims at reducing pressure on public sector jobs

LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has formally introduced further 45 medical related professions to be qualified for interest-free loans under the Punjab Health Foundation (PHF) self-support scheme on Sunday.

While addressing the launching ceremony in a road show, the health minister said the Punjab government was providing public and private medical sectors with necessary facilities. “In the first phase, the PHF would provide 100,000 new job opportunities for the medical professionals. Self-support scheme is an ideal programme to reduce pressure on public sector jobs. Scope of this scheme will be expanded gradually,” the minister said.

She told the participants of the roadshow that only professionals from private sectors including doctors, homeopaths, hakims, telemedicine experts, home care, dental experts, nurses, health gyms and nurses would be helped out to establish their own business.

“Loans ranging from Rs200,000 to Rs2.5 million will be distributed as ‘qraz-e-hassna’ to more than 45 medical professions,” she said. The minister said applicants could apply online and the process of all applications would be completed within 40 days.

The health minister expressed her satisfaction over return ratio of interest-free loans which stood to above 97%. “People who return the loans timely know that this amount will be used in helping more jobless professionals to start their own businesses,” she said. Moreover, setting up private clinics in far-flung areas not only would provide health facilities at the doorstep to the people in these areas but would also reduce inclination towards the government jobs. She also expressed her satisfaction over the transparency in PHF matters.

In his address, Specialised Health Secretary Saqib Zaffer said the roadshow was the first public level programme for the launching of loan scheme. “I am happy that the PHF has developed a transparent system thanks to hardworking of its managing director. Work burden of public health facilities will be automatically reduced by encouraging private medical businesses,” he said.

The secretary also directed the PHF to provide maximum facilities to the applicants. PHF Managing Director Ajmal Bhatti said the loan scheme was a major step towards creating 10 million jobs under the prime minister’s programme. “Separate counseling cells have been established to provide consultancy to the newcomers,” he said.