Commitment: ‘Free healthcare for the needy a govt priority’

Minister distributes cheques among representatives of hospitals.

LAHORE: Zakat and Ushr Minister Nadeem Kamran said on Saturday that the provision of free healthcare to disadvantaged patients and imparting vocational training to deserving students was a priority of the government.

Kamran was speaking at a cheque-distribution ceremony held at the Punjab Vocational Training Council head office.

He said concerted efforts were being made to provide them relief under a comprehensive strategy. Kamran said the government would launch a scheme to rehabilitate underprivileged people. He said the scheme would enable them to become small business owners.

Kamran said the primary aim of inviting representatives of hospitals and vocational training institutes at the event was to make them cognisant of the challenges confronting underprivileged people. He said surprise visits should be made at hospitals being financially assisted by the government to guarantee the provision of healthcare to disadvantaged patients. Kamran said underprivileged patients should be treated in befitting manner to ensure that their self-respect remained intact.

The minister said the department had initiated an awareness programme that included the publication of a Zakat brochure, advertisements in newspapers, the creation of a web portal, a Facebook page, television programmes and the publication of annual reports.

The minister distributed nearly Rs70 million in cheques among medical superintendents from 32 hospitals at the tehsil, district and division level to enable the provision of healthcare to disadvantaged patients. Around Rs82 million were also distributed among 22 vocational training institutes in the division.

Population Welfare Minister Zakia Shahnawaz, Parliamentary Secretary Rana Muhammad Arshad and Zakat and Ushr Secretary Habibur Rehman Gillani were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2015.