Healthcare revamp kicks off in Pindi
A healthcare worker administers a dose of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at a vaccination centre in Karachi, Pakistan, January 16, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
The Rawalpindi District Health Authority (DHA) has come forward with a plan for better treatment services for the general public at Tehsil Headquarters hospitals (THQ), Primary Health Centres and Rural Health Centres (RHC).
The DHA’s Chief Executive, accompanied by his team, has launched urgent inspections of these facilities throughout the district. The plan has been prepared for up-to-the-mark availability of medicines, doctors, staff and other facilities. The DHA has already received medicines in bulk.
The DHA has devised the comprehensive plan to complete the health indicators in all cases to revamp the health care system in all five tehsils of the district, Murree district and Kotli Sattian. This initiative follows the concerns of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz regarding the state of healthcare in the region.
Initially, the Authority has started visiting the health facilities in Rawalpindi tehsil, Kahuta, Kallar Syedan, Gujarkhan, Taxila, Murree tehsil, and Kotli Sattian tehsil to ensure the provision of health facilities in an effective way.
The second phase of the health care system will address the shortage of doctors, para-medical staff and electro-medical equipment. Consequently, these healthcare centres affiliated with the DHA will be able to provide the best treatment facilities to the citizens at their doorstep.
DHA CE Dr Ijaz Ahmed said that he has initiated his field tours beginning from Kotli Sattian and will visit all THQs, BHUs, and RHCs consecutively with the objective that all healthcare facilities deliver free and high-quality medical treatment to the public.
The provincial Secretary Health is taking an extraordinary interest in the initiative, he said, adding every healthcare centre must have the capability to provide treatment services to male, and child patients at their nearby centres.
The DHA has taken the fresh initiative when 48 posts of male and female doctors and medical officers (MOs) have already been abolished from the aforementioned health care centres.
On February 16, the Department of Primary and Secondary Health Care Punjab issued a notification regarding the abolition of 48 posts. As of now, this notification has not been rescinded, whereas the notification for the Sheikhupura district of a similar nature has been withdrawn.
Forty-eight medical officers, who were dismissed in the Rawalpindi district, were serving in government dispensaries, primary health centres, and other facilities. They are now awaiting the Punjab government will issue orders for the restoration of their positions by revoking the notification.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2024.