Poor performing districts Two-week deadline given

The poor performing districts in the Punjab have received a two-week deadline on 'key performance indicators' or face punitive action. The warning came in a Provincial Executive District Officers' meeting at the DG Health Office in Lahore where Punjab Health Secretary Jawaad Rafiq Malik announced that two meetings would be held with these poor performers before the provincial review scheduled for 24th indicating that heads might roll afterwards.
Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique chaired the meeting which also drew in Parliamentary Secretary Khawaja Imran Nazir and Punjab Health Services Director General Doctor Zahid Pervaiz. The global advisory body on Polio Technical Advisory Group Chairman Jean-Marc, who was in the city for key meetings, also briefly in the meeting and lauded the stringent accountability mechanism in place in the Punjab.
He stressed that special emphasis be laid on the central Pakistan districts and also the need for inter provincial co-ordination in districts bordering other provinces. Chief Minister Road Map Programme, Expanded Programme for Immunisation, Policy and Strategic Planning Unit, MNCH and other allied units attended the meeting. The progress of the districts on E-vaccs, safe deliveries, health watch and hospital watch was reviewed. The performance on the EPI indicators was reviewed as well.
The advisor then voiced his concern on districts not achieving the minimum staff presence ratio of 90 percent and directed the EDOs to take stern action against the staff. Expanded Programme for Immunisation Director Dr Munir Ahmed claimed that the progress of UCs in the province with below 70 percent coverage will be up for scrutiny. On overall scorecard Chiniot and Pakpatten stayed as top most districts for the month. Secretary Health also took note of the unauthorised absence in the BHUs. He directed that the leave sanction authority to be raised to the DDOH office. He also said that doctors will primarily perform their duties at the health centers and will not be spared from the official duties.
The secretary also took note of the vacant positions of LHVs in many districts and ordered that temporary arrangements be made through Community Midwifes to facilitate the general public. The meeting also discussed to fix one day for walk-in interviews for the positions of MO so that ads may be circulated province-wise. In order to ensure MO Posting, an incentive-based formula was discussed with additional marks for BHU service. On safe deliveries the meeting was apprised that 485 out of 550 BHUs in the province have gone live and progress on the remaining is on. The advisor announced that medical services in 10 districts would be outsourced and work on complete plan is still underway.