CM launches free medicine supply to districts in Punjab

Nine central warehouses set up with stocks worth billions of rupees

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the provision of free medicines to several districts during her visit to the Central Medicine Warehouse at Maraka, one of the country's largest such facilities.

She ordered the functionalisation of medicine warehouses in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan at the earliest.

CM Maryam Nawaz oversaw the loading and departure of trucks carrying medicines for various districts. She also inspected the furniture, medical equipment and other goods to be provided to hospitals. She also checked the validity of the medicines and the temperature system.

Punjab Health Secretary Ali Jan Khan informed the CM that the medicines could be stored at a standard temperature and transported from the warehouses.

According to an official statement, nine central warehouses have been established under the free medicines project. More than Rs10 billion worth of medicines have been stored in the warehouses. Modern medical equipment worth over Rs7 billion for revamping hospitals, along with furniture, disposable bed sheets and other goods will also be provided from the warehouses.

Standard furniture, latest medical equipment, medicine trollies and other items will be provided to the district hospitals from the warehouses across the province.

Meanwhile, the establishment of Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) offices, appointments, rules and regulations were approved in the maiden meeting of the organisation presided over by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

The chief minister called for ensuring transparency and merit in the appointments and the formulation of an effective monitoring system.