LAHORE: Two medical universities in Rawalpindi and Multan will shortly be set up on the direction of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

The establishment of medical universities will promote medical education, strengthen and develop the public health sector, nursing and allied health sciences in the province.

This was stated by Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique while presiding over a meeting to deliberate on the setting up of new medical universities in the province, says a handout.

Principals of the Rawalpindi Medical College and the Nishtar Medical College gave presentations regarding the setting up of medical universities in their respective districts.

The meeting was informed that eight medical universities were functioning in the public sector in Sindh but Punjab with almost 120 million population had just two.

Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education secretary Najam Ahmed Shah said that resources, land and hospitals were available in both districts for setting up medical universities. He said the government would provide additional resources required for the purpose.

He formed a four-member committee headed by KEMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Faisal Masood for preparing a feasibility report and recommendations within a week.

Mr Rafique said that five medical colleges were established in different districts of Punjab a few years back on the direction of the chief minister.

He said that by establishing medical universities in southern and northern regions of the province the health facilities would be enhanced and new opportunities of medical education would be available to the youth in their areas.

KEMU VC Faisal Masood, UHS pro-vice-chancellor Prof Junaid Sarfraz Khan, additional secretary technical Dr Salman Shahid and Medical Education deputy secretary Dr Nasir Shakir were also present.

Published in Dawn November 10th, 2016