Birth, death record to be digitised, shared

Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir on Thursday announced an initiative to digitalise the birth and death records at the primary healthcare level.

The announcement was made during a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) at the PSHD office.

The MoU aims to integrate digital record-keeping at all Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centres (RHCs) across the province.

According to a statement, the joint initiative is set to enhance birth registration processes, making Punjab the only province sharing the data directly with NADRA. The integration allows citizens to obtain birth certificates promptly, streamlining the process and ensuring accuracy.

Khawaja Imran emphasised the vital role of Lady Health Workers (LHWs) in raising awareness about the new system.

He highlighted that the digitisation initiative, including the record-sharing with NADRA, will facilitate a transition to a paperless system.The move extends to government hospitals, which now maintain digital records for all patients, including those in outpatient departments (OPD) and paediatric wards.

The digital records will help develop strategies for understanding the causes, factors, and prevention of diseases, and enhance immunisation coverage, particularly in underserved areas.

NADRA Director Colonel (Retd) Saqib Mehmood stressed the importance of digitising the birth and death data for future censuses. He lauded the health department's efforts in digitising patient records, recognising the significant impact on improving healthcare services and data accuracy.

Health Services DG Dr Muhammad Ilyas Gondal reaffirmed NHSP's commitment to increasing access to quality health services for poor and vulnerable households in Punjab and acknowledged the support of the provincial authorities. APP