No compromise on quality of medicines: minister

The Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has directed all public sector health facilities to ensure sufficient drugs stock, particularly at emergencies. While chairing a meeting, here at Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department on Thursday, she said that process of procurement of fresh stock of drugs has been started and vowed that there will be no compromise on quality of the medicines. The minister asked that relevant concerned rules must be adopted during the procurement process. "All District Health Authorities must keep updated health department regarding medicines stock and demand," she said. She further directed that medical superintendents of all DHQ and THQ hospitals should forward their requisition to their respective health authority for further proceedings. "There will be no shortage of funds when it comes to matter of public healthcare" assured Dr Yasmin Rashid. The minister directed that drug testing procedure should be completed on fast track basis. She expressed satisfaction over SOPs of health department regarding drugs procurement and delivery to BHUs level, but warned that there should not be any violation at any stage of drug procurement. "Strictly adopt transparency and merit" she concluded.