Outdoor facilities set up for Covid patients in Punjab

Dr Yasmin Rashid says the arrangement will facilitate families to visit patients

LAHORE:

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that the ministry has set up separate outdoor facilities for coronavirus patients at the government hospitals so that people can visit them easily.

The minister chaired a meeting to review the facilities in the outdoor departments of hospitals and status of Covid-19 patients’ treatment on Monday. The meeting was held at the Committee Room of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education (SHME) Department.

SHME Department Secretary Barrister Nabeel Awan, Additional Secretary Amir Ghazi, King Edward Medical University Vice Chancellor Khalid Masood Gondal, Fatima Jinnah Medical University Vice Chancellor Amir Zaman Khan, Mayo Hospital CEO Asad Aslam Khan and Allama Iqbal Medical College Principal Arif Tajammul were present on the occasion.

Services Institute of Medical Sciences Principal Mehmud Ayaz, General Hospital MS Dr Mehmud Salahuddin, Services Hospital MS Dr Iftikhar, Ganga Ram Hospital MS Dr Ehtesham, Jinnah Hospital MS Dr Yahya Sultan and Mayo Hospital MS Dr Tahir Khalil also attended the meeting.

The health minister took an update on the facilities in outdoor departments of government hospitals, preparations and measures for the Covid-19 patients and strategy for the future. The vice chancellors and medical superintendents shared the details of their institutions, data of patients, treatment and suggestions for improvement. The provincial minister said that the outdoor facility at Expo Centre was available round the clock.

At Lahore’s Mayo Hospital, coronavirus outdoor facility had been set up at the hepatitis clinic, she added. “Routine services like ENT, eye, dermatology and dentistry would continue to function as per routine.”

The health minister further said that the routine outdoor facilities had been kept separate from the coronavirus facilities. “People must not hesitate to visit this outdoor facility as the MS will ensure proper disinfection of the area.”

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