Plan afoot to overhaul BHUs
Patients are being treated at a Basic Health Unit (BHU) after cholera outbreak in Barkhan. Photos: Express
The work on a project to upgrade the treatment system in 100 primary health centres of Rawalpindi district has been initiated under the Electronic Medical Recording Programme.
According to sources, all tests, medications, and medical history of the patients will be available on a computer-generated number, once the project sees the light of day.
Under the medical record programme, the existing treatment facilities would be expanded in all health centres, they said.
They added that the basic centres will have doctors, LHOs, support staff, medicines, medical equipment, blood, sugar, urine and TB test facilities.
Currently, 43 primary health centres are functioning round the clock in seven tehsils of district Rawalpindi while 57 primary health centres provide treatment facilities from 8am to 2pm. Keeping all primary health centres functional 24/7 through upgradation of treatment systems is also part of the plan to reduce the current pressure of patients on the tehsil headquarters, district headquarters and teaching hospitals, they said.
Sources said under the project, it has been decided to ensure the provision of treatment facilities to the citizens in their localities.
Moreover, a complete record of the patients’ medical history, all test reports, prescribed medicines, death, birth, vaccination, and check-up details of pregnant women will be available online.
Doctors can access all relevant records by entering the patient's medical record number in the system.
Sources also said that records of previous visits of patients will be available and all facilities for follow-up treatment will be available for future treatment.
Gene expert test facility for diagnosis of anemia, diabetes, urine and TB will also be available in the health centre, they said, adding that through gene expert test and MDR test, the diagnosis and stage of TB could be determined.
According to the medical information system (MIS) in-charge Dr Waqar Ahmed, the implementation of the electronic medical recording programme has been started in 100 health centres across the district.
This year, a target has been set to complete the up-gradation of treatment systems in all primary health centres, he said. The major benefit of this initiative will be that people in rural areas will get an upgraded treatment system close to their homes, the official added.
Waqar Ahmed said secondly, there will be a reduction in the number of patients visiting tehsil, district headquarters and teaching hospitals.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2023.