'Parchi fee to be abolished at rural health centres'

Punjab Health Minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed has said the government was promoting health sector on priority basis and a number of projects were being implemented for that purpose by the provincial government.
The minister said the promotion of health sector was of vital importance for creation of a civilised society. He said Parchi fee would be finished at rural health centres (RHCs) and card system would be introduced at those centres in which health record of patient would be maintained. He added private practice would be allowed to doctors after their duty hours at the centres.
He expressed those views in a departmental meeting to review the pace of work on Health Sector Reforms Programme (HSRP). Technical advisor Anwar Ahmad Bugvi, additional secretaries, DG Health besides the EDOs (health) of Khanewal, Vehari, Jhang, Rawalpindi and Muzaffargarh attended the meeting.
The minister said government had started HSRP at a cost of rupees six billion for provision of modern medical facilities to the masses. He said special measures were being taken for uplift of health sector, 80 per cent of programme would be spent for provision of latest health care facilities to the rural folk.
He said rupees one billion had been released to the districts for up-gradation of 295 Rural Health Centres (RHCs) and those centres would be brought at par with the tehsil headquarters (THQs). He added attractive salary package would be provided to doctors and paramedics posted at those centres, and transport facility would also be provided for pick & drop of their children for education purposes.
Under the programme, anaesthetic training would be provided to medical officers for surgical purposes and required training would also be provided to the nurses, lady health visitors, lady health workers, midwives besides other paramedics, he added.
Health Minster said under HSRP, provision of modern and timely healthcare facilities to the people would be ensured. All Rural and Basic Health Centres as well as THQs and DHQs would be upgraded and provision of latest medical equipment, medicines, doctors and other staff would be ensured under this programme, he concluded.