Primary healthcare: ‘Plan for upgrading health facilities in remote areas ready’

Basic health units and rural health centres are key to health care delivery.

LAHORE:

The Department has formulated its recommendations to strengthen the primary healthcare system on the instructions of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Health Secretary Hassan Iqbal said on Friday.

“Provision of health facilities in remote areas will be assured by incorporating them into the healthcare system after the chief minister’s approval,” he told a meeting.

Former special assistant to chief minister on health Khawaja Salman Rafique, King Edward Medical University Vice Chancellor Faisal Masood, University of Health Sciences Vice Chancellor Maj (retd) Muhammad Aslam, Health Additional Secretary (Admin) Azmat Mehmood, Development Additional Secretary Usman Moazzam, Establishment Additional Secretary Asfandyar Khan, Additional Secretary (Technical) Anwar Janjua, Health Director General Tanveer Ahmed, Lady Health Workers Programme Coordinator Akhtar Rashid Malik and Punjab Health Sector Reforms Programme Director Farasat Iqbal were present.



The health secretary gave a presentation on recommendations for strengthening the primary healthcare system and sought proposals from the participants.

He said the basic health centres and rural health centres played an important role in the primary healthcare system. By making them fully functional, medical facilities could be extended to rural areas. The success of the Extended Programme on Immunisation (EPI) would also be ensured. He said an effective implementation of the healthcare delivery system, reduction of the maternal mortality rate, and curbing seasonal diseases was possible only through the strengthening of primary healthcare system.

He said that Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on health could be achieved by improving the primary healthcare system.

Rafique said that the recommendations formulated by health department seemed practical.

He said a briefing would be arranged shortly for their approval by the chief minister. He said the provision of modern health facilities was the top priority of the Punjab government and solid measures would be taken for this purpose.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2013.