Key Takeaways
- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered the installation of CT scan machines in every district.
- The initiative aims to improve public healthcare services and enhance medical facilities.
- Telemedicine centers will also be established to provide remote consultations and appointments.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the installation of CT scan machines in every district of the province, as part of a broader healthcare improvement plan. This directive was issued during a video-link meeting chaired by the chief minister, where the progress of various healthcare initiatives was reviewed.
The meeting also saw the establishment of telemedicine centers for seasonal and common diseases. These centers will allow patients to consult doctors through video calls and be referred to relevant hospitals or wards as needed. The centers will facilitate appointments with hospital wards, laboratories, and other healthcare facilities.
In addition to the CT scan machines and telemedicine centers, 300 Maryam Nawaz Hospitals, formerly known as Rural Health Centers, are to be upgraded into fully fledged hospitals. The chief minister has directed the recruitment of 40,000 doctors and allied health professionals across Punjab.
As of now, 2,524 doctors, 2,482 women medical officers, 408 consultants, and 32 cardiologists have been recruited, while 7,572 lady health visitors and 5,048 support staff have been posted at hospitals across the province. The meeting also approved the introduction of digital medical boxes for Clinics on Wheels for the first time in Punjab.
These boxes will allow ultrasound, blood sugar, complete blood count (CBC), and ECG tests to be carried out through a single setup. The boxes will also support cameras for teleconferencing, while mobile-linked smart ultrasound devices will be introduced. Officials reported that 911 Clinics on Wheels had provided medical care to 30 million patients within a short period.
The chief minister has announced a monthly ‘Hospital of the Month’ award for hospitals demonstrating outstanding performance across the province. She has also ordered the immediate replacement of medical superintendents at four hospitals over poor performance and negligence of duties. Authorities are to create a pool of doctors and medical superintendents for emergency situations.
To ensure round-the-clock digital monitoring of hospitals, a Directorate of Monitoring and Surveillance has been established in Primary Healthcare. The system will cover district and tehsil headquarters hospitals, Maryam Nawaz Hospitals, Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics, Field Hospitals, and Clinics on Wheels. Community Health Monitoring Health Inspectors have completed registration and data collection for more than 119.8 million people across Punjab.
Medicines have been delivered to the homes of 3,444 Type 1 diabetes patients, 14,286 hepatitis patients, and 13,864 tuberculosis patients. The meeting further agreed to introduce legislation linking private clinics with the Health Information Management System (HIMS). Provincial Secretary for Primary and Secondary Healthcare and Population Nadia Saqib briefed the meeting on the progress of the healthcare initiatives.
