Dr Yasmeen Rashid said that health centers situated in Attock, Mianwali, Jhang, D.G. Khan, Chiniot, Lodhran, Kasur and Rajanpur will be transformed in the first phase, to provide best healthcare facilities to the patients. After the up-gradation of health centers, medical services will be provided round the clock and 100-percent availability of medicines will be ensured in hospitals under Prime Minister's Health Initiative program, she said.
Answering a question, the minister said that every effort is being made for the best treatment of Nawaz Sharif in Jinnah Hospital. Past government ruined the institutions during the last 30 years, she said, adding: "Had the hospitals' conditions been improved with diligent efforts, they and their children would have no need to go abroad for treatment."
Three senior professors are deputed for the treatment of Nawaz Sharif, she added. She regretted that child mortality rate had reached to a dangerous point during birth and the basic reason of this is lack of necessary facilities at the grassroots. To a query, she said the parents will have to play their role of administering anti-polio drops to their children to eradicate polio virus. Anti-polio campaign has been launched in four districts from today and the children will be administered anti-polio drops, she added. She disclosed that budget of recruiting 2000 staff has been approved to fulfill the shortage of doctors and other staff in hospitals of rural areas. In the first phase, the project of basic health facilities will be completed in June this year and BHUs will be made functional round the clock by April 30.
She further said, "Sehat Sahulat Cards" are being introduced in the whole of Punjab from February 22 which would help to provide relief to the people living below the poverty line. They would be able to get the facility of free medical treatment up to Rs 720,000. In the second phase, the government will also introduce this card for the salaried stratum, she added.