Health minister under fire in Punjab Assembly

Opposition points to lack of functioning machinery

LAHORE: Provincial health minister Dr Yasmeen came under fire during the question-answer session of the Punjab Assembly. The opposition slammed Rashid for malfunctioning machines at different hospitals, shortage of doctors and misleading the House over the fee being charged for CT scans.

She was responding to queries of PML-N lawmakers. On a point about the shortage of doctors at different hospitals, she blamed the PML-N for not fulfilling the deficiency of doctors. Rashid admitted that the current situation is far from ideal, but it was better than the past. When asked about the 4,000 non-functional ultrasound machines, she acknowledged that they have not been working at the Services Hospital for several months. However, she assured that new machines would be installed at the soonest.

PML-N’s Samiullah Khan, on a supplementary question, drew the attention of the house and said the provincial minister claimed that there was a process of at least two months to repair or replace the machines.

He found it astonishing that the same question was posed five months ago, but the concerned department did nothing for to repair them. He continued that only replacement was mentioned.

When asked by PML-N’s Gulnaz Shehzadi on how much amount was being charged for CT-scans at Civil Hospital Sialkot, Rashid replied with a figure of Rs2,000. Shehzadi claimed the minister was unaware of how much money was being charged, adding Rs2,500 was the correct amount according to a notification of the government.

However, the minister claimed they had increased 60 beds in PKLI hospital, adding that those machines, which had not been functioning are working at the moment. She assured that certain functions, which had been ruined by the past PML-N regime, were returning to normal. The session was ultimately adjourned till 3pm on Wednesday (today) due to a lack of quorum.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2019.