Punjab Health Minister, Dr Tahir Ali Javed on Tuesday said health infrastructure especially of AJK has been badly affected by the earthquake and should be supported for more than one year.
Talking to PTV he said, health infrastructure has collapsed, hospitals were affected, a large number of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff have died and in this situation at least, "We will have to support health infrastructure especially of AJK for one to one and half year."
He said, on the special instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Punjab government reacted immediately after the earthquake and without delay emergency was declared in all big hospitals of the province.
Ambulances were immediately sent to AJK from Murree, he said and added three big government hospitals of Rawalpindi were fully involved in relief activities.
The health minister said, nearly 8,500 patients were admitted in government sector hospitals of Punjab. Most of them have been discharged after operations, surgeries and treatment, he added.
He said, at present nearly 1,500 patients are admitted and to lessen the burden on hospitals in Rawalpindi, patients were also being sent to Lahore and Faisalabad Hospitals. Many patients were sent to adjoining district of Chakwal, Jhelum and Attock, he added.
To a question he said, patients were provided free treatment with meal. Patients attendants were also provided free meals and accommodation, he added.
He further said, all patients who were discharged after treatment were also provided free of cost transportation.
The minister said, first reaction was acute trauma but, now "We are dealing with complicated cases," and field hospitals have been advised that complicated cases should be referred to big government hospitals. Punjab government has also provided 75,000 vials of vaccination, he informed.
To another question about field hospitals he said, arrangements were made on priority for provision of medical facilities to AJK and NWFP victims.
About 40 medical teams were sent to affected areas with the collaboration of WHO and Ministry of Health, he informed.
Nearly 250 doctors and nurses are working in the field since the last 15 days. They are also being rotated, he added.
On the demand of a field hospital, on Monday, a mini bus and an ambulance with specialists and medicines were sent to the affected areas, he said.
He said that Chief Minister during his visit to the affected areas has offered that about 13,000 beds in different hospitals of Punjab were available to treat patients of the affected areas.
Appreciating the role of foreign medical teams he said to sustain their efforts Punjab government is providing manpower and other medical facilities.
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