Lahore (Web Desk): The Punjab government has decided to outsource rural health centres in a bid to enhance healthcare services for the people of the province.
This was decided during a special meeting chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz, where she was briefed on the recent developments in the health sector.
The CM was briefed that the number of patients seeking treatment at health centres has increased threefold since young doctors took over the administration of these clinics while successful Clinic on Wheels program also reached over seven million patients across Punjab, providing medical services to those in need.
During the meeting, it was shared that 225 rural health centres in the province have already been revamped and upgraded into modern clinics. These newly developed facilities are set to offer a range of medical services, including general surgery, gynecology, diagnostics, and various medical tests, and they will remain operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Additionally, these clinics will serve as primary referral centres for patients requiring further care.
Maryam Nawaz also directed the authorities to focus on infrastructure development, including the construction and expansion of access roads to Sambli General Hospital in Murree.
She set specific deadlines for the functionalization of key health facilities, such as the OPD at Nawaz Sharif Institute in Sargodha, which is expected to open by June, and Jinnah Hospital Pic-ii, which is slated to be fully operational by September 30.
The Punjab CM further instructed that the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital be made functional within the set timeframe and that the nomination of the boards of governors and other related matters be expedited.
The meeting also explored a proposal to establish a medical city at the divisional level, aimed at treating various diseases, alongside plans to set up specialized units like a burn unit, a cardiac center, and children's wards at the district level.
Additionally, the possibility of building a mega medical city near the Lahore Ring Road was discussed as part of the broader vision for improving healthcare infrastructure in the province.
On the financial front, it was reported that the Punjab government has already distributed free medicines worth over Rs6.7 billion in OPDs across Punjab.
The Punjab CM also highlighted the success of the children’s heart surgery programme, which has benefited more than 2,500 children.
“With these initiatives in place, the provincial government aims to completely overhaul and improve the healthcare system, setting a target of 100% improvement in government hospitals across Punjab,” Maryam Nawaz asserted.