Healthcare facilities for masses top priority: PM

Says Auqaf Department land should be leased to private hospitals

LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan has underlined the need to provide healthcare facilities to needy patients through health card scheme in private hospitals.

He also suggested that Auqaf Department land should be leased to private hospitals to improve health infrastructure in the province.

Presiding over a meeting at the CM Secretariat on Monday, the PM said the provision of better healthcare facilities to masses is the priority of his government and there was a need to take immediate steps.

“In the past, the successive government preferred to provide better healthcare facilities to rich while ignored poor patients. However, we are implementing an integrated roadmap to provide equal healthcare facilities to rich and poor,” he said.

The meeting was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, Punjab Chief Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar and other senior officials.

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The prime minister was briefed about various initiatives, including improvement of facilities in emergencies of five big hospitals, revamping of OPD and establishment of Madadgar Counters. The prime minister was also briefed about administrative and financial matters of public sector healthcare facilities.

It was highlighted in the meeting that the issuance of health cards in 30 districts of Punjab has been completed and the poor patients were availing free medical facilities. He was also apprised of the construction of new cardiac hospitals and steps to curb dengue.

Meanwhile, presiding over a separate meeting, Khan ordered strict action against criminal elements and said the government would support officials in case they face any pressure. Such crimes, referring to child abuse incidents in Kasur and Chunian, invite the wrath of God, Khan underscored while expressing grief over these occurrences.

He directed Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and authorities concerned to visit Kasur, Chunian and other affected areas and meet with the local scholars, affluent people, school teachers and parents to avoid such incidents, besides creating awareness to identify the elements involved in such crimes.

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Punjab Inspector General of Police Captain (retd) Arif Nawaz Khan gave a detailed briefing to the meeting participants on steps taken to stop crimes in the province, action against criminal elements, change in police station culture, professional training of police personnel, encouragement of officials of good repute, amendments in law and public awareness campaign against criminals.

He was apprised of a clear action plan under an integrated strategy against elements involved in child abuse and child pornography within six months.

Khan also chaired a separate meeting to review progress on the implementation of the new local government system in the province. He was briefed about the ongoing activities to implement a new local government system. A detailed briefing was given on Punjab Municipal Services Programme.

Punjab Law Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja, Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, Minister for Housing Mian Mahmood ur Rasheed, Punjab Chief Secretary Naseem Yousaf Khokhar, Planning and Development Board Chairman Habibur Rehman, and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2019.