Pindi to outsource 20 more BHUs

After outsourcing seven Basic Health Units (BHUs) under the District Health Authority (DHA) of Rawalpindi to operate under the 'Maryam Nawaz Health Clinic' (MHNC) status, a fresh decision has been made to outsource 20 more BHUs under the same status.

Citizens will receive free medical treatment, while the clinics' administration will claim billing from the Punjab government in return for the services provided.

Of 100 BHUs in the Rawalpindi district, 22 BHU buildings have been revamped. Among them, seven BHUs—including Kolian Hameed, Bajnial Gujran, Jand Melo, Kuri Dolal, Ranotrah, Mankiala, and Dakhali—had already been outsourced.

These centres now have appointed doctors and supporting staff, along with laboratory testing and essential medicines. These BHUs have officially acquired the status of Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics, where citizens receive free medical care, and the billing claims are processed through the DHA and submitted to the provincial government.

Furthermore, a decision has been made to outsource 20 more BHUs in the Rawalpindi district under the Maryam Nawaz Health Clinic initiative, and the process for this transition has already begun. It is noteworthy that in the first phase, the Punjab government has outsourced 150 BHUs across the province under this status, making them fully functional. In the second phase, an additional 982 BHUs are being outsourced.

According to health department sources, while the infrastructure of BHUs is revamped, doctors and supporting staff are often unwilling to work there. Those who are posted either get themselves transferred through recommendations or remain absent, leaving the healthcare system to be managed by dispensers and other staff. To address this issue, the provincial government has adopted a policy to gradually outsource all BHUs across the province, giving them the status of MNHC.

Chief Executive of the Rawalpindi DHA, Dr Asif Arbab Niazi, says in the first phase, when 150 BHUs were outsourced in Punjab, seven BHUs in Rawalpindi were included. Now, in the second phase, 982 more BHUs are being outsourced, including 20 additional BHUs in Rawalpindi, for which the process has already started, he adds.

He further says Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics are ensuring high-quality medical treatment for citizens free of charge. The clinics' administration submits billing claims to the Punjab government through the respective DHA. This entire process is aimed at providing citizens with quality healthcare services free of cost.