LAHORE, Dec 22: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of rural health centres (RHCs) and basic health units (BHUs) where machinery worth millions of rupees was lying non-functional and neither doctors nor paramedical staff was available.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day conference of the alumni of the Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMCON-2008) at the college auditorium here on Monday, Sharif said the provincial government had taken the task to improve the health sector.

The chief minister said hundreds and thousands of people were dying due to non-availability of medicines and treatment facilities and even medicine like Disprin was not available to them. He said the condition of health sector could not be improved despite provision of resources.

He said a comprehensive strategy had been evolved to provide standardised medical facilities to the people. He said the government would ensure provision of free medicines to the people throughout the province.

He said that AIMC graduates were playing an important role in medical research and the conference would leave a positive impact on the health sector. He said the AIMC would make further progress under the leadership of its principal, Prof Javed Akram. Earlier, Prof Akram highlighted aims and objectives of the conference and performance of the college.

MPAs Dr Saeed Elahi, Ejaz Ahmad Khan and Ashraf Chauhan, AIMC Board of Management Chairman Mahboob Iqbal Tata and APPNA president Dr Mahmood Alam also spoke. — Staff Reporter