Health units in eight districts to be upgraded

Rs8b allocated to upgrade RHCs, BHUs and THQ hospitals

LAHORE:  

The prime minister’s health initiative is being launched in eight major districts of the province at a cost of Rs8 billion, said Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid on Monday. Under the initiative, emergency rooms, nurseries and other departments of rural health centres, basic health units and THQ hospital will be developed along modern lines.

Addressing a press conference at the DGPR office, the minister revealed that health centres in Attock, Mianwali, Jhang, Dera Ghazi Khan, Chiniot, Lodhran, Kasur and Rajanpur will be upgraded in the first phase in order to provide citizens with the best possible healthcare.

Child mortality during childbirth has become alarmingly high and the basic reason for this is a lack of facilities at a grassroots level, she stated. Regrettably, past governments did not pay any heed to such health centres, she said.

“Alongside doctors, parents will also have to play an active role in administering polio drops to their children in order to eradicate the disease,” she emphasised. The polio campaign was launched in four districts on Monday, she added.

After the health centres are upgraded, round-the-clock medical services will be provided to patients and the provision of medicines will also be ensured, she maintained. The minister added that the budget for appointing 2,000 staff members, to fulfil the shortage of doctors and other paramedical staff, has been approved.

The project of upgrading basic health facilities will be completed in June while the round-the-clock service at basic health units will be made operational by April 30. “Our institutions are being strengthened under Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision,” she said.

Further, sehat cards are being introduced in Punjab from February 22 which will provide relief to those who are living below the poverty line. In the second phase of the project, the government will also introduce sehat cards for salaried individuals, she said.