‘Capital’s hospitals to get triage system’
SAPM says they are trying to improve the attendance of senior doctors at PIMS, Polyclinic
PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government has decided to introduce a ‘triage system’ at the government-run hospitals in the federal capital soon to improve service delivery for patients, especially in the casualty wing.
This was stated by the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza aid on Wednesday.
The triage system is used to determine which patients should be prioritised for medical treatment and care based on their clinical condition, the prognosis of the affliction and available resources.
Under the triage system, Dr Mirza said that the patients will be divided into the urgent and non-urgent categories when being treated in emergency outpatient departments (OPDs).
“Critically ill patients, and those who require immediate life-saving interventions for survival, will fall in the emergency category,” he explained.
He further hoped that the triage system will help ensure transparency and timely availability of specialist doctors in public hospitals in any emergency, he said, adding that they aim to implement the system soon.
Regarding the absence of senior doctors from their posts at government hospitals in the federal capital, Dr Mirza said, “we have received several reports that senior doctors are not present in the OPDs at Pims the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic and they are not performing their duties well and causing great difficulties for the poor patients needing emergency care.”
Moreover, he said that the ministry has taken notice of complaints that heads of departments, senior doctors and specialists often leave well before official closing hours.
“On my direction, the Pims executive director has issued a strongly-worded circular warning of disciplinary action against doctors who are found absent without leave,” Dr Mirza said.
He explained that thousands of patients visit Pims daily and they cannot, under any circumstances, be deprived of the services of senior doctors and specialists.
There shall be zero-tolerance for such causal attitude, he warned. “Strict action will be taken against truant doctors,” he made it clear.
Under directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the health ministry is working to improve services in the capital’s hospitals, he said, adding that this will require utmost devotion and commitment by the doctors and staff.
He said health is a fundamental right and the government will never compromise on it at any cost.
Dr Mirza further said that poor patients have as much right to services of senior doctors at government hospitals as anyone else.
Talking about health reforms, he said that the government has initiated a reforms agenda for revamping the entire health infrastructure of the country where every patient will get equal access to health facilities.
He added the government under the leadership of Imran Khan was striving hard to improve the health facilities for the masses.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2020.
The federal government has decided to introduce a ‘triage system’ at the government-run hospitals in the federal capital soon to improve service delivery for patients, especially in the casualty wing.
This was stated by the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza aid on Wednesday.
The triage system is used to determine which patients should be prioritised for medical treatment and care based on their clinical condition, the prognosis of the affliction and available resources.
Under the triage system, Dr Mirza said that the patients will be divided into the urgent and non-urgent categories when being treated in emergency outpatient departments (OPDs).
“Critically ill patients, and those who require immediate life-saving interventions for survival, will fall in the emergency category,” he explained.
He further hoped that the triage system will help ensure transparency and timely availability of specialist doctors in public hospitals in any emergency, he said, adding that they aim to implement the system soon.
Regarding the absence of senior doctors from their posts at government hospitals in the federal capital, Dr Mirza said, “we have received several reports that senior doctors are not present in the OPDs at Pims the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic and they are not performing their duties well and causing great difficulties for the poor patients needing emergency care.”
Moreover, he said that the ministry has taken notice of complaints that heads of departments, senior doctors and specialists often leave well before official closing hours.
“On my direction, the Pims executive director has issued a strongly-worded circular warning of disciplinary action against doctors who are found absent without leave,” Dr Mirza said.
He explained that thousands of patients visit Pims daily and they cannot, under any circumstances, be deprived of the services of senior doctors and specialists.
There shall be zero-tolerance for such causal attitude, he warned. “Strict action will be taken against truant doctors,” he made it clear.
Under directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the health ministry is working to improve services in the capital’s hospitals, he said, adding that this will require utmost devotion and commitment by the doctors and staff.
He said health is a fundamental right and the government will never compromise on it at any cost.
Dr Mirza further said that poor patients have as much right to services of senior doctors at government hospitals as anyone else.
Talking about health reforms, he said that the government has initiated a reforms agenda for revamping the entire health infrastructure of the country where every patient will get equal access to health facilities.
He added the government under the leadership of Imran Khan was striving hard to improve the health facilities for the masses.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2020.