Punjab Remains Polio Free In 2016, Two Burn Units Completed

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Dec, 2016 ) : Punjab Minister for Specialized Healthcare & Medical education Kh. Salman Rafique said that 2016 was a successful year for health sector as the province remained polio free.

Talking to the media here on Tuesday, he said that polio free Punjab was the proof that routine immunization under EPI Programme and anti-polio campaigns were successfully launched in Punjab. Kh.

Salman Rafique said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was personally monitoring the performance of Health Department. He said that various development projects had been completed in Punjab and construction work on many other projects was underway.

He disclosed that 500 beds teaching hospitals were being constructed with each medical college of Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan. It will enhance 1500 beds capacity and more latest medical facilities will be available to the patients of the concerned areas.

He said that Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) of Lahore had been completed while the DTL of Multan to be upgraded by the experts of Ministry of Health Turkey. Kh. Salman Rafique said that on the model of Turkey, Motorbike Ambulance Service was being introduced in Punjab for the provision of quick emergency medical aid to the people living in the congested streets where traditional ambulance could not reach.

He disclosed that 800 motorbike ambulances would be procured. Responding to a question, the Minister informed that burn units of Jinnah Hospital Lahore and Multan had been completed, moreover, the extension block of Children Hospital Lahore also completed through which 600 beds and new operation theaters had been included in the hospital.

It would reduce the waiting lists of the patients and operations of waiting patients would be performed rapidly. Kh. Salman Rafique said that provision of quality healthcare services to the people of Punjab was the mission of Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the whole team of Health Department was endeavoring hard to accomplish his task.

He further informed that revamping of 40 DHQ and THQ hospitals had been started besides, provision of CT scan facility at all the DHQ hospitals. Kh. Salman Rafique said that more mega projects of health sector would be completed in the next Calendar year (2017) including surgical tower of Mayo Hospital and the phase-I of Pakistan Kidney & Liver Institute consisting of 300 beds.