Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that nurses are the backbone of healthcare delivery system and NO healthcare system can operate without nurses. He said that government has introduced historic reforms in the health field, however, a lot of work is still to be done.
He said this while addressing a seminar held at Sheikh Zayed Hospital in connection with the World Nursing Day today. Kh. Salman Rafique said that government has promoted nurses to the next grade who were waiting for promotion for many years. He said that thousands of nurses have been regularized whereas new vacancies of nurses have also been created. He said that recently 1450 charge nurses have been selected by PPSC and the Health Department has issued their appointment and posting orders. Moreover, a requisition for another one thousand nurses is being sent to PPSC. He said that nurses are performing a very sacred duty of taking care of patients. He said that society should acknowledge the services of nurses and give them due respect. He observed that a positive change is gradually taking place in the society towards nursing profession and people respect this noble profession. However, there is also a need of change in the attitude of nurses so as to redress the complaints of the patients.
Kh. Salman Rafique said that status of nursing schools would be upgraded to college level. He said that advance course and capacity-building training is also being arranged for nurses abroad. Kh. Salman Rafique said that a number of solid steps have been taken to improve healthcare system in Punjab and there is a lot of work to be done for which day and night efforts are continuing. He said that on the instructions of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, steps have been taken for the improvement of mother and child health and to control maternal mortality for which 24 hours health facilities and delivery arrangements are being made in 700 basic health units upto June under 24/7 programme. Moreover, 66 percent basic health units have been functionalized by filling the posts of medical officers. He said that special arrangements are being made to functionalize the remaining 34 percent BHUs in Punjab. He said that Health Department is the voice of doctors and nurses. Kh. Salman Rafique said that Ministers, Advisors and government officers are the facilitators to the public. He said that government has also given four-tier service structure to the allied health professionals. Earlier, nurses presented tableaus and skits to highlight the importance of nursing profession. They also took oath to discharge their duties with honesty and professional dedication.
