Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid on Monday pledged reorganisation of Punjab Institute of Blood Transfusion Services (PIBTS) on modern lines, saying that the PIBTS will be developed to make blood transfusion services transparent with the introduction of modern scientific practices
Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid was chairing a meeting, which was attended by Special Secretary SH&ME Department Ajmal Bhatti, Prof Javed Chaudhry and officials of the Punjab Institute of Blood Transfusion Services. The Health Minister reviewed performance of the Institute and measures for its improvement.
The Health Minister said that the Institute of Blood Transfusion Services will be completely revamped and developed on modern lines. “The idea behind this revamping is to improve the quality of services rendered by the Institute.
New staff has been hired against vacant positions to improve performance and training of the new staff will be organized very soon.” The minister informed that in the next phase, the capacity of regional blood centres will be scaled up.
“Regional Centres have been set up at Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur. All Teaching Hospitals of Punjab have blood separation facility available. Currently Blood Banks are operational in 27 DHQs and 134 THQs hospitals.” Dr Yasmin said that the government is upgrading the blood screening from ICT to CLIA Technology.
“We need to strengthen coordination between Primary and Secondary healthcare Department and the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department to boost the capacity of blood banks.” She said that objective of these measures is to ensure safe blood transfusion system in the province.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid joined video link session to review sustainability and institutionalization of Sehat Sahulat Program on Tuesday.
Special Assistant to PM Dr Faisal Sultan discussed sustainability measures for the Program. Additional Secretary Development SH&ME Department Dr Asif Tufail, Dr Ali Razzaq, Federal Parliamentary Secretary Dr Nousheen Hamid, Hasnat Ahmed, Mohammad Munib, Prof Javed Chaudhry along with representatives of the Federal Areas, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh Balochistan, NCOC, and Northern areas attended the meeting. The participants reviewed long term sustainability of the program.
The Health Minister said, “The government has started the initiative to provide medical cover to people. As per directions from Prime Minister Imran Khan, we are working to provide healthcare services on priority. All 29.3 million families of Punjab shall be provided universal health coverage by December 2021. The institutionalization and sustainability measures for the Sehat Sahulat program are praiseworthy.
It is the responsibility of the state to look after its citizens. We cannot realize dream of Riyasat-e-Madina without providing genuine relief to common man. Prime Minister Imran Khan wants to make things easier for common man. Residents of DG Khan and Sahiwal divisions have already been provided health insurance services.
