Says plan underway for setting up a new dental college at FMU
Staff Reporter
Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid said that 70 percent of Covid-19 cases being reported across Punjab province belong to Delta variant of the virus, which spreads and infects rapidly.
“We can protect ourselves from the virus through compliance with SOPs and rapid vaccination.”
Speaking to media after the Syndicate meeting of the Faisalabad Medical University here, the minister expressed her hope that 40 percent population of five big cities will be vaccinated by August 14.
“Vaccination has been going on in Faisalabad at a brisk pace and during the past 24 hours, 31,000 people have been inoculated against the virus in the city.”
Dr Yasmin regretted that some countries have put Pakistan in the blacklist but not India, which has more infection rate than Pakistan.
The government is trying to provide maximum facilities in health sector. Punjab has allocated largest budget for health this year with Rs40 billion allocation for medicines,” she pointed out.
The minister said that the hospitals have been directed to ensure provision of free medicines to their patients.
Meanwhile, Dr Yasmin Rashid said that a working plan for setting up of a new dental college at Faisalabad Medical University is being finalized in continuation of the Punjab government’s new initiatives in the health sector.
She said that the Punjab government has allocated a record budget of Rs370 billion for the health sector this financial year, besides a separate allocation of Rs22 billion from the federal government.
Divisional Commissioner Faisalabad Saqib Manan, Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Ali Chaudhry, Additional Deputy Commissioner Finance Afifa Shajia, Assistant Commissioner City Syed Ayub Bukhari and members of the syndicate were present on the occasion.
Dr Yasmin Rashid said that the 4th wave of Corona Pandemic is ferocious and people must take precautionary measures.
She appealed to the media representatives to spread awareness on vaccination. She said, “In the last 24 hours, 1240 new cases of Corona were reported in Punjab in which is a serious cause of concern.”
The health minister said that vaccination and compliance with SOPs can help prevent Corona.
“Around 70% cases are linked to Delta variant and Chinese vaccines are quite effective against Delta variant.”
She said that the syndicate has decided to set up a new dental college at Faisalabad Medical University (FMU).
She also said that the by the end of the year, every family in Punjab will receive a health card. So far 8.5 million health cards have been distributed. She said that every family in DG Khan and Sahiwal has already received health cards.
Good quality medical facilities are being provided to card holders and over 350 hospitals have been empanelled in Sehat Sahulat Card Program.
Responding to questions from media persons, Dr Yasmin Rashid said that those who have been already inoculated including those from Chinese vaccines cannot be vaccinated again with other vaccines.
