The process of outsourcing Basic Health Units (BHUs) in Rawalpindi district and converting them into Maryam Nawaz Clinics is underway.
So far, seven BHUs have been outsourced and an additional 20 are expected to be outsourced soon.
These clinics will provide citizens with free, quality healthcare services, with all expenses to be claimed from the Government of Punjab.
A total of 27 BHUs are being turned into Maryam Nawaz Clinics.
Once the renovation work on other BHU buildings is completed, they will also be included in the outsourcing process.
Each Maryam Nawaz Clinic will be responsible for providing free laboratory tests, doctor consultations, and medicines to all incoming patients.
According to officials, the primary reason for converting BHUs into Maryam Nawaz Clinics is the longstanding inefficiencies in the public health system.
These include irregular attendance by doctors, reluctance to serve in remote areas, lack of medicine availability, and the absence of basic laboratory testing facilities.
Despite previous attempts to address these issues, tangible results could not be achieved, they said.
Officials reported that since the outsourcing began, there has been a noticeable improvement in the delivery of free medical services. According to District Health Authority Chief Executive Dr Asif Arbab Niazi, all BHUs in Rawalpindi will gradually be outsourced and converted into Maryam Nawaz Clinics.
He emphasised that the initiative will especially benefit rural populations by providing them with quality healthcare free of cost.
A comprehensive plan has been prepared to ensure consistent and effective health services through this model, he said.
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