Punjab Minister for Primary & Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir has said that public sector hospitals are providing best healthcare facilities to millions of people and every new day bringing improvement in health sector. He observed that government hospitals are overloaded because no patient is being denied to treatment. He further said that Punjab government introduced the tradition of awarding health professionals and it would be further enhanced.
He expressed these views while addressing cash prize awarding “Sehat Khidmat Awards” distributing ceremony for best performing health professionals of DHQ, THQ hospitals and RHCs & Basic Health Units at a local hotel, today. These awards are being given to the best doctors, WMOs, surgeons, physicians, nurses, paramedics and janitorial staff on the basis of performance according to the KPIs set by the department on monthly basis. Acting Governor Punjab Rana Muhammad Iqbal was the chief guest on this occasion. The Minister of State for Health Saira Afzal Tarar, Minister Specialized Healthcare Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Minister Population Welfare Begum Zakiya Shahnawaz, Minister Higher Education Raza Ali Gillani, Minister Local Government Mansha Ullah Butt and other provincial ministers, MNAs, MPAs, Lord Mayor Lahore, Secretary P&S Health Ali Jan Khan, Principals and Medical Superintendents of medical colleges/ hospitals, representatives of international development partners and a large number of employees of the department also attended the ceremony. Kh. Imran Nazir further said that rapid reforms are being done in the health sector according to the vision of Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the first time the ceremony for the encouragement and acknowledgement of the talent and services of health professionals is being organized. He further said that information technology has been introduced in the department at every level and now, we can check the stock and expiry date of any medicine of DHQ or THQ hospital of a far-flung district while sitting Lahore. The Minister said that cash awards are being distributed among the health professionals of 21 different categories.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister Specialized Healthcare Khawaja Salman Rafiq said that Punjab is the only province which has eradicated tetanus in pregnant women and the international partners including WHO has certified this fact. He further said that Punjab province has introduced Rota virus vaccine to protect infants/ children from diarrhea and routine immunization courage under EPI programme has been reached 90 percent which is a record. Khawaja Salman Rafiq revealed that hard working and courteous attitude is the key of success in health sector which can bring pleasant change in working of the hospitals. Minister of State Saira Afzal Tarar said that health sector in Punjab has improved tremendously but without controlling population, hospitals could not be sufficient for the patients. She said that quality healthcare is being provided in the hospitals due to that huge rush of patients is being observed in these health facilities. Addressing the function, the acting Governor Rana Muhammad Iqbal said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif especially focusing on health sector development and both the health ministers and their teams are working with dedication to introduce reforms according to the vision of Chief Minister Punjab. He congratulated the award winner health professionals and said that the journey of hardworking and services should be continued. On this occasion, the acting Governor and both the Health Ministers gave away cash prizes and certificates to the officers, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff on their outstanding performances.