‘Govt providing best treatment to poor patients’

Salman says govt believes in practical measures *UHS VC says high positions cannot be obtained through charity

LAHORE: Advisor to Chief Minister (CM) on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq on Monday said the Punjab government is providing best treatment to the patients and revolutionary steps are being taken for this purpose.

He said that nurses are an important pillar of healthcare and the government is taking various steps for their welfare including conversion of nursing schools into colleges and revision of curriculum.

He said this while addressing 6th convocation of Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI) at a hotel. University of Health Sciences VC Maj Gen (r) Dr Muhammad Aslam, PGMI Principal Prof Anjum Habib Vohra, Board of Management Chairman Gen (r) Ziauddin Butt, faculty, retired and serving principals of medical colleges, superintendents of hospitals, students and parents were present.

Salman said the government believes in practical measures instead of slogans and the steps taken for the upgrading of healthcare are unprecedented. He said the government has provided a solid base for the development of primary and secondary healthcare. He said that reforms have been introduced at BHUs, THQs and DHQs hospitals through Chief Minister's Health Roadmap. He said that special pay has been offered to the specialised doctors for posting at THQs and DHQs hospitals. He said that these specialists would get up to Rs 150,000 additional allowance during their posting in the said hospitals. He lauded the services of Prof Vohra. He said that PGMI is providing opportunities to the doctors for research in different fields of medical sciences besides fulfilling the requirement of specialist doctors in the country. The Advisor said that Health Department is taking necessary steps to complete institute of neurosciences at Lahore General Hospital, in this connection he himself attended meetings with the senior officers of C&W Department.