‘Govt committed to improving health facilities’

Senior minister says there is a lot of room for improvement

LAHORE:  

“Compared to the previous regime, the present government is committed to improving the standards of facilities at all hospitals,” said Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan.

He expressed these views during a surprise visit to Mian Mir Hospital on Thursday. He took notice of the complaints regarding a few departments and gave directions to resolve the issues and further improve the facilities.

“There is a lot of room for improvement, there will be no compromise,” he stated. He revealed that he initiated a number of projects for Mian Mir Hospital in 2006 and 2007. However, these were put on the back burner by the previous government, rendering it non-functional for 10 years, he said.

He maintained that he will personally upgrade the facilities at the hospital and every patient will be given a positive response.

The minister also took a round of the hospital and inspected the various departments. He directed the administration to improve the facilities at the eye and gynaecology department, to upgrade the system for medical tests and ensure the provision of medicines to patients.

Medical facilities, indoors and outdoors, should be to the satisfaction of the common man. Prime Minister Imran Khan has set an example of a modern facility with international standards in the shape of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, he said.

During the visit, Khan was briefed by Mian Mir Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Shahbaz who revealed that 1,000 patients tended to outdoors while 250 are treated indoors on a daily basis. The medical superintendent said that there are a number of issues including human resources and funds for the hospital.

Shahbaz added that in recent months, the performance of the hospital has increased from 12 to 52%. This process shall continue in light of the directions issued by the minister, he said.