Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr. Jamal Nasir has informed that the World Bank andother international organizations will provide financial assistance of US $181 million for strengthening Primary Healthcare Service Delivery System in Punjab over a period of next four years. The minister told that this assistance will be provided for the National Health Support Program (NHSP) and will be utilized for improvement of healthcare system as well as the existing facilities.
The minister revealed that an extensive project for elemination of Tuberculosis in Punjab will be launched under the NHSP and sputum samples will be collected by going door to door in rural areas of the province. The patients suffering from TB will be treated on priority basis, he added. Dr. Jamal Nasir informed Punjab had made substantial progress with regard to the immunization and vaccination of children under two years of age. The Punjab government has now set the target to immunize and vaccinate 95 percent of children of this age group under this programme. The minister said that advanced ambulances equipped with latest life-saving equipment will be purchased for shifting critically ill infants from one to another city for treatment. Under this programme, Electronic Medical Record System will be implemented in more than three thousand basic health units and rural health centers actoss Punjab. The case history and medical records of all patients and their diseases visiting these centres will be computerized for future reference and treatment, revealed the minister. Laboratory test reports of government health centers will also be available online like well reputed private laboratories.The minister informed that additional budget will be provided to health councils to improve the quality of medical facilities in Punjab. Earlier, a delegation of the World Bank and other international organizations held a meeting with the Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr. Jamal Nasir. The delegation included delegates from Global Financing Facility, Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization as well as representatives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.Secretary Health Ali Jan Khan, Director General Health Dr. Ilyas Gondal and other relevant officers also attended the meeting.
