'Revolutionary measures for healthcare being taken'

Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Punjab government has taken revolutionary measures for provision of modern health facilities to the masses. He said that besides provision of free medicines and dialysis facility in hospitals and installation of air-conditioners, mobile hospitals had also been imported for providing healthcare facilities to the people of backward and far-flung areas at their doorstep.
He said that a historic pay package had been announced for doctors, nurses and paramedics and now it was their responsibility to utilise all their energies for the service of the hailing humanity.
He said that Pakistan was passing through a critical phase and there was a need for collective and concerted efforts to salvage the country out of the quagmire of problems and transform it in accordance with the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal and regain its status in the comity of nations.
He commended the role of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan in the education and training of doctors. He was addressing the 45th convocation of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan at Awan-e-Iqbal, here Friday. Secretary Health Jehanzeb Khan, vice chancellor, principals and a large number of senior doctors were present on the occasion.
The chief minister said that it was an honour for him to attend the 45th convocation of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. He congratulated the doctors who had been awarded fellowship, membership and diploma. He said that Pakistani doctors had earned a good name for the country through display of their professional capabilities in America, Britain, Saudi Arabia and other countries and they should serve the ailing humanity in their own country with the same spirit. He said that doctors had taken the oath of service to humanity and they should perform their responsibilities with commitment and dedication.
He said that provision of modern treatment facilities was his agenda and attaching top priority to the uplift of health sector, he had spent huge funds on the improvement of medical facilities in the last three years. He said that the funds allocated for health sector had been raised from Rs 11 billion to Rs 38 billion. He said that provision of funds for health sector was not a favour but he had taken oath to serve the masses and the people were the best judge of his performance.
Shahbaz said rural and basic health centres had failed to provide healthcare facilities in remote areas therefore, mobile health units equipped with latest treatment facilities were being imported. He said that six mobile health units had started functioning in Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalnagar and Mianwali and 300 persons were benefiting from medical facilities from a mobile health unit daily compared to 10 patients from a basic health centre. He clarified that Health Department had nothing to do with mobile health units as the company, which was supplying mobile health units was also responsible for operating them.
He said that improvement of health services was a collective responsibility and concerted efforts were needed for that purpose. He observed that societies progressed with collective wisdom and tireless efforts and there was a need to display honesty, hard work and commitment and make collective efforts for the progress and prosperity of the country. He pointed out that with the increase of 50 percent in the salaries of doctors, nurses and paramedics and recent announcement of historic package of 5.20 billion rupees, total budget allocated has reached the figure of 11.2 crore rupees, which was unprecedented in the history of the country.
The chief minister said that raise in the salaries and privileges was the right of doctors, nurses and paramedics as they were engaged in the service of ailing humanity. However, he said, the measures taken by the government for the uplift of health sector would prove fruitful only if those associated with health sector utilised all their energies for the service of the mankind and concentrated on their duties. He said, "if we failed in the service of ailing humanity we will be held accountable in this world and the world hereafter."
President College of Physicians and Surgeons Professor Dr Zaffarullah Chaudhry in his welcome address informed that the college was the only institution of the country, which was producing specialists in 64 different fields while 14 regional centres of the college were operating in Pakistan and three in abroad. Highlighting the training programmes of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, he said that the institution was promoting modern trends in medical and postgraduate medical education.