Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that every possible step was being made to provide quality healthcare facilities to the people to make best healthcare system in Punjab. He said every effort be made to achieve the targets of ongoing reforms programme of health sector because achieving those targets would play an important role in providing better treatment facilities to the people, adding "effective strategy should be developed and be immediately implemented upon to achieve the targets in the districts which are lagging behind than the other districts.
"In this regard, everyone will have to do hard work to move further with commitment because we have been blessed with tremendous resources by Allah Almighty and there is no need to look towards others. Positive results have been achieved due to the bifurcation of health sector in two parts. Keeping in view the needs of the future, a third section of the health sector should also be pondered over and final recommendations should be presented soon." The Chief Minister said that by the grace of Allah Almighty and due to the hard work of Health Department, many improvements have been achieved in the standard of medical facilities available in public sector hospitals, basic health units and rural health centres and this has given new confidence to the patients.
Latest ultrasound machines have been provided to 60 BHUs and this number will be further increased soon; vaccination coverage has been expanded but efforts should be accelerated to further expand it. He maintained that effective monitoring of ongoing health reforms programme was very essential. Meanwhile, 100 filter clinics have been set for control of hepatitis in the hospitals across the province. An organized awareness campaign would be launched about adoption of precautionary measures for saving from hepatitis. On the other side, infection control programme is being implemented in an effective manner in the hospitals which are being made infection-free for the first time in the history of the country. Incinerators were also being set up to dispose of the solid waste of the hospitals, he added.
The CM directed that lady health workers should be given training to keep them abreast of modern needs and requirements and the LHVs showing good performance should be encouraged. Similarly, nutrition of mother and child should be given particular importance and an organized awareness campaign should be launched about the utility of lactation for the infants. He said Special TB Centres would be established in public sector hospitals under TB Control Programme to provide 100 percent free healthcare facilities. He expressed satisfaction that every step of the Punjab government is aimed at benefiting the ailing humanity and added that people serving the patients are crown of his head. "I shall fully encourage such ministers, officers and officials," he added.