CM lays foundation stone of 600-bed mother-child hospital

Says Rs3b will be spent on latest healthcare equipment

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said the government provided Rs277 billion for the health sector in the current budget and Rs45 billion was being spent on new healthcare projects in the province. He said this at the foundation stone laying ceremony of a 600-bed mother and child hospital at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Monday.

The 10-storey building will be completed in two years with an estimated cost of Rs4 billion, while a sum of Rs3 billion will be spent on the latest healthcare equipment.

Addressing the ceremony, the chief minister termed it a historic occasion as Sir Ganga Ram Hospital was being expanded after a gap of 77 years. “This hospital will be the most modern medical facility, having 13 operation theatres and special attention will also be paid to medical research,” he added. He said the government provided Rs277 billion for the health sector in the current budget. Meanwhile, Rs45 billion was being spent on new healthcare projects in the province, he highlighted.

Hospitals scrutinised over patient services

The chief minister said mother and child hospitals were being established in Bahawalnagar, Sialkot, Mianwali, Attock, Rajanpur, Layyah and Muzaffargarh districts. Work has already been started on Nishtar Hospital-II project in Multan while the foundation stone of the institute of cardiology will be laid in Dera Ghazi Khan next month. He added that Sheikh Zayed Hospital-II project would be launched in Rahim Yar Khan from next financial year.

He announced a plan to establish a new cardiac hospital in Lahore, adding that spadework has already been started. “The government will also start work for the establishment of a 500-bed institute of blood diseases in Lahore in the next financial year as there was no such institution in the public sector, he added.

Buzdar highlighted that distribution of Sehat Insaf Cards has been completed in all the districts of the province. “As many as 35 million deserving people are getting free treatment facilities.

Temporary hospital set up by LGH for PSL

The chief minister said 32,000 health professionals, including 12,000 doctors, have been recruited on merit by this government. He also announced a plan to link Samanabad Hospital with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on the request of Industries Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal. He announced the provision of land for Fatima Jinnah Medical University campus and added that an allocation in Knowledge Park will be examined. “I regularly inspect hospitals during my visits to different districts and am sanguine that doctors’ attendance has reached 95% at basic health units (BHUs). The government has enhanced the doctors’ salaries and their other problems will also be solved,” he said. “Medicines are available in hospitals in abundance and there is no corruption scandal against this government as PTI is fully engaged in public service for the last one and a half years.”

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid termed the arrival of the CM as a good omen which has rejuvenated them. Secretary Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Nabeel Awan said that the provincial government is working day and night to improve the health sector and new hospitals and medical colleges were being developed. Earlier, the communications and works secretary gave a briefing on the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2020.