"Our doctors have set an example for everybody in tackling dengue fever epidemic," CM Shahbaz Sharif. PHOTO: FILE
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday asked for doctors’ advice regarding a public health initiative to issue health insurance cards to people who could not afford medical treatment.
Addressing the 47th convocation of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSP), Sharif said that this was his first public appearance as chief minister. It showed that he was committed to health care and health education in the province, he said.
Those who could not afford to pay for it would be given free medical treatment under the health insurance scheme. “This is a very tough task but it is possible,” he said. There were many problems with the health sector, he said.
Hospitals were not audited by independent experts and sanitation in hospitals remained an issue. “The Punjab government is already the best employer for doctors. We want to further improve the doctors’ salary packages, but then the performance should match the salaries,” said Sharif.
He congratulated the physicians and surgeons who had completed their fellowships. “Our doctors have set an example in tackling dengue fever,” he said. Doctors from Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore had trained doctors here to cope with the situation but Pakistani doctors had dealt with the issue in an exemplary way, he said.
However, there were questions as to why 141 children in the province had lost their lives to measles. “We need to plug the loopholes and bridge the gaps to be able to provide the best medical facilities to the people,” he said.
Sharif said the government would support the CPSP in carrying out trainings and paying stipends to its trainees.
As many as 423 doctors were awarded FCPS and 64 MCPS diplomas at the convocation.
CPSP president Zafarullah Chaudhary said 90 per cent of the specialists in the country and all the specialists in the armed forces had been trained by CPSP. He said the government should upgrade its DHQ hospitals. He said CPSP could help in this regard. He said CPSP representatives should be made part of the advisory body in matters of health policy.
“The CPSP is among the top seven medical institutes in the world. It holds uniform structured training programmes in the country and abroad. The fellows of the college are highly paid abroad and have employment offers from many countries,” said Dr Rana Sohail, a fellow who had completed his specialisation in general surgery.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2013.
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There is no rules $ regulation follow in THQ Kahror Pakka no helper provided to LHV $ not give any respect to LHV in this compaign total work LHV handel previous 3 days LHV preform all work only now a 4th day a staff nurse attand compaine after absent of three days $ complain to MS of THQ that LHV have a no idea to inject so give me a permeation to inject meazles $ MS ordered to LHV Stop inject meazle your are not allowed. So Staff nurse is your incharg but the reason is that if LHV is not manage meazle program ar not allowed why she collect meazle,ice pake,vection collar, iplace table $ total accessories from rome to coledor why? i humble request to CM Punjab to cheak secreately plze. staff nurse pric many time some children $ she have a no idea how to inject measle to children and she have attand no traning $ total 3 person 1 LHV is Fixed $ 2 helper 1 Staff nurse $ 1 helper mail (still not present). Note that only LHV preform duety 8pm to 5pm after 2pm no helper avalabe to LHV helper boy already not present till 4th day. so sir check THQ Kahro Pakka through secreat persion. it is a request of a Pakistani becuse meazle is very dangerous $ already huge amount of death occoure due to meazle. If any Problem occur due to meazle only Govt. of Punjab Responsible but i know Govt. give no attention becuse it is a part of punjab name South Punjab.
It is strange that CPSP trainees get their stipend from Government exchequer but end up serving outside Pakistan. Indeed, CPSP has become an overseas employment promoter signing MOUs with MoH of Saudi Arabia and Ireland. Moreover, although a college and an examination body with no campus of its own, it’s diploma has been considered superior to University degrees by corrupt Pakistan Medical & Dental Council. Truth is that no country other than Saudi Arabia recognizes certificate from CPSP as a valid postgraduate qualification.
The way it should be. Even in US, the government provides health insurance to its citizens. SS can make a good start in this regard by starting for poor section of the province. Insurance companies would be jumping in joy after hearing this news.