Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced a monthly “Hospital of the Month” award for hospitals showing outstanding performance across the province.
She said 2,524 doctors, 2,482 women medical officers, 408 consultants and 32 cardiologists had already been recruited. In addition, the government has posted 7,572 lady health visitors and 5,048 support staff in hospitals across Punjab.
Chairing a video-link meeting, the chief minister decided to upgrade 300 Maryam Nawaz Hospitals, formerly rural health centres, into full-fledged hospitals. She also noted that 911 Clinics on Wheels had provided medical care to 30 million patients in a short period.
The meeting approved the introduction of digital medical boxes for Clinics on Wheels for the first time in Punjab. The boxes will support ultrasound, blood sugar, CBC and ECG tests through a single system.
A camera can also be linked to the box for teleconferencing, while a smart ultrasound device connected to a mobile phone will also be introduced.
Maryam Nawaz directed that 40,000 doctors and allied health professionals be recruited for hospitals across Punjab.
She also ordered a new CT scan machine for every district and directed the establishment of telemedicine centres for seasonal and common diseases. Patients will be able to consult doctors through video calls and, where needed, will be referred to the relevant hospital and ward.
The chief minister ordered the immediate replacement of the medical superintendents of four hospitals over poor performance and negligence. She also directed the formation of a pool of doctors and MSs to handle emergencies.
She called for improvements in cleanliness and parking facilities at district and tehsil headquarters hospitals.
For the first time in Punjab, Clinic Quality Control Officers will be appointed to assess the quality of treatment being provided to patients. A Directorate of Monitoring and Surveillance has also been set up in Primary Healthcare for 24-hour digital monitoring of every hospital.
The digital monitoring system will cover DHQ and THQ hospitals, Maryam Nawaz Hospitals, Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics, field hospitals and Clinics on Wheels.
The meeting was informed that Community Health Monitoring Health Inspectors had completed registration and data collection of more than 119.8 million people across Punjab.
Medicines were delivered to the homes of 3,444 type-1 diabetes patients, 14,286 hepatitis patients and 13,864 TB patients.
The meeting also approved legislation to link private clinics with the Health Information Management System.
Provincial Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare and Population Nadia Saqib gave a detailed briefing during the meeting.
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