MBBS students may be deputed to combat virus outbreak

CS orders health, admin officials to deal with suspected, confirmed patients

LAHORE: To combat the threat of coronavirus spread in the province, Punjab government has instructed the health department to prepare a list of MBBS students of third year and above to make preparations for sending them in the field, if needed.

According to government officials, the decision has been taken as part of the preparation of a contingency plan in case coronavirus swings out of control. Punjab Chief Secretary (CS) Azam Suleman Khan has also ordered that instead of police, only officials of health department and district administration would now deal with cases of confirmed or suspected coronavirus patient.

“There is a need to infuse sense of confidence among citizens so as to achieve positive results,” added the CS while presiding over a meeting to review administrative matters, provision of healthcare facilities and daily-use commodities in the province. The meeting was attended by senior member of Board of Revenue, additional chief secretary home, Lahore division commissioner and other officers concerned.

The meeting decided that the administration would be bound to facilitate logistics for power plants so that electricity production could not be affected. The CS ordered the officers to ensure that vehicles carrying eatables, medicines and medical equipment are not stopped in any case. In order to avoid inconvenience at checkpoints, such vehicles must have letters of relevant companies with them, he added. The meeting also reviewed supply of essential items, including flour, sugar, wheat, pulses and ghee. The CS was informed that additional supplies of these commodities have been given to all divisions and there is no shortage of any eatable in districts.

The industries secretary told the meeting that a crackdown on hoarders is underway across the province. The primary and secondary healthcare secretary said a Contact Tracing System has been launched to get information about people who remained in contact with a confirmed coronavirus patient and services of the Punjab Information Technology Board as well as staff of education department would be acquired for the process.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2020.