Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique chaired an important meeting regarding the performance of government hospitals at Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC). During the meeting, the provincial health minister made a detailed review of the treatment of patients in government hospitals.
The health minister said that vice chancellors (VCs), principals, MDs, doctors and nurses deserve appreciation for ensuring regular treatment of patients in public hospitals of Punjab. In OPDs of all government hospitals, they were performing the duties themselves, he added. The minister said, We will not compromise on the respect of VCs, principals and MS. The main purpose of revamping government hospitals is to provide more facilities to the people.
During the last three months, efforts had been made to improve the conditions of government hospitals, he added and said the country and society couldn’t afford any deterioration. Health Secretary Ali Jan Khan said that the slip counter should not be closed in any government hospital. A good impression had been created by the presence of Vice Chancellors, Principals and MSs in OPDs, he added. Special Secretary Development Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Prof. Mahmood Ayaz, Vice Chancellor University of Child Health Sciences Prof. Masood Sadiq, CEO PHIMC Dr. Ali Razaq and Deputy Secretary Waleed Baig were present in the meeting. Through video link conference, Special Secretary Raja Mansoor and Additional Secretary Zahida Azhar from Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education, Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof. Khalid Masood Gondal, Vice Chancellor Faisalabad Medical University Prof. Zafar Chaudhry, Vice Chancellor Rawalpindi Medical University Prof. Umar, Vice Chancellor Nishtar Medical University Prof. Mehnaz Khakwani, Principal General Hospital Prof. Sardar Muhammad Al Farid Zafar, Principal Allama Iqbal Medical College Prof. Syed Asghar Naqi, Executive Director Punjab Institute of Neurosciences Prof. Asif Bashir and all other principals and MS attended.
Moreover, The third meeting of the working group on the health insurance programme was held at the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company under the chairmanship of Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique. The experts concerned gave their valuable suggestions and opinions on health insurance programme during the meeting. Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the share distribution formula in the health insurance programme was discussed with the experts during the meeting. “Efforts are being made to address the flaws in the health insurance programme. Final recommendations for improving the health insurance programme are being formulated,” he added. He said that the Punjab government was increasing the limit of the health insurance package beyond one million rupees and expanding the scope of coverage for the convenience of the people. The share of private to public hospitals in terms of the health insurance programme has been greatly improved, he added. He said that the public could not get more standard and better medical facilities than those in government hospitals. In the past, the health insurance programme was used to serve political interests rather than to benefit people, he added. Secretary Health Punjab Ali Jan Khan, Special Secretary Development Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Vice Chancellor of the University of Child Health Sciences Professor Masood Sadiq, Vice Chancellor of King Edward Medical University Professor Mahmood Ayaz, CEO of PHIMC Dr. Ali Razaq, DG Health Services Dr Ilyas Gondal, Dr Zahid Pervez, and officers from the Finance Department and P&D participated.
