LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has set a deadline of March 2025 for the construction and revamping of basic health units and rural health centres in the province.

Presiding over a meeting to review progress on the “Special Health Initiatives” in the province on Tuesday, the chief minister also announced a special allowance for doctors working in health centres and hospitals in remote areas.

She was informed that Rs46 billion would be spent on the construction of Phase-I of the Cancer Care Hospital, which has been initiated.

“The hospital will have cancer care clinics, state-of-the-art facilities, world-class doctors and their residences, solar sheds and parking, as well as inns and restaurants for the ease and accommodation of patients’ relatives.”

The number of beds will be increased from 100 to 150 in the hospital. In the second phase, more than 280 beds will be added to the Cancer Care Hospital.

She was apprised that the supply of medicines was being ensured in all health centers and hospitals across Punjab. She evaluated a proposal to establish a specialized hospital in Punjab for bone marrow transplants.

She directed officials to start the construction of the Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha as soon as possible and reviewed issues related to the outsourcing of angiography services.

“A system of continuous monitoring of hospitals is being developed,” she said, directing the health secretary to determine the facilities available in hospitals compared to the patient influx.

She also directed the completion of health projects on a priority basis, as well as the optimal utilization of already-available infrastructure. She approved a special project to implant artificial limbs for disabled persons, and agreed to establish a cancer treatment unit at Qatar Hospital in Bhakkar.

She also directed that PIC-II Cardiology be made operational as soon as possible. She reviewed health projects in each division of Punjab and asked the concerned departments to submit the timeline for each project. “Every new health project should set a new example in quality and standard. No compromise on quality will be tolerated.”

She also evaluated the conversion of Simli TB Hospital to a General Hospital, as well as the establishment of medical colleges in every district on a public-private partnership basis.

The meeting was briefed that 50pc of students in these medical colleges would be admitted on merit.

She was also briefed that the installation of the EMR system for keeping digital records in primary and rural health centers had been completed. She approved the handover of Government Data Durbar Eye Hospital to the Auqaf Department.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2024