Local units to refer patients to hospitals

Patients will be referred to major public sector hospitals from the smaller healthcare units under a referral system being introduced in the affiliated facilities of Lahore soon.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said on Monday that all mobile health units had been directed to perform at their full potential to provide better healthcare facilities at the doorsteps of people in remote areas.

The minister was presiding over a meeting held to review ongoing development projects and initiatives of the Punjab Health Facilities Management Company (PHFMC).

Primary and Secondary Healthcare Special Secretary Dr Farrukh Naveed and PHFMC Chief Executive Officer Nasim Sadiq briefed the minister on details of development projects and performance of the company.

The health minister said the screening of children in government hospitals was being scaled up.

“Better healthcare facilities will be provided to the people of densely populated areas through mobile health units. Immunisation will be expedited by linking the units with the Integrated Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (IRMNCH) Programme.

She noted that 92 per cent of the population of Punjab over 12 years of age had been fully vaccinated against coronavirus.

The minister said the department was especially focusing on improving facilities at the Punjab Rural Health Centre at Dulkha and Tehsil Headquarters Hospital at Qila Gujar Singh Police Lines. Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch said, “Treatment of patients in hospitals managed by the Punjab Health Facilities Management Company is being monitored.”

He said the mobile health units would be very useful for people.