Pursuant to Punjab Chief Minister's "Health for All" Vision, Mayo-Hospital, Lahore, which is one of the biggest health institutions not only in the country but also in Asia, has been converted into a patient-friendly state-of-the-art hospital where free medicines are being provided to all the emergency and other patients admitted in various wards except Urology and Orthopaedic.
An amount of Rs 180 million has been allocated for the current fiscal year (2006-07) for giving free medicines to the patients brought in the hospital for treatment both emergency and in-door, sources in the Mayo-Hospital told Business Recorder, here on Monday.
According to the sources, Mayo-Hospital Lahore under the leadership of Medical Superintendent Dr Fayyaz Ranjha has taken a lead among different City hospitals in implementing the policies of Punjab government towards extending modern health facilities to the patients free of cost. Due to people friendly atmosphere prevailing in Mayo-Hospital Lahore, public confidence on the said health institution has been enhanced, the sources claimed.
It may be mentioned that provision of free medicines to the patients was started in Mayo-Hospital in April 2004. Initially, this facility was available to the patients admitted in eye, TB and emergency wards but now it has been made available in all the wards except Urology and Orthopaedics.
Apart from this, around 1,500 patients admitted in various wards of the hospital are getting free breakfast, lunch and dinner in courtesy with a private electronics company.
This scribe visited various wards of Mayo-Hospital Lahore on Monday and interviewed a number of patients admitted in surgical and other wards. All the patients were of full praise to the Punjab government in general and hospital administration in particular which ensured provision of free medicines for them.
A senior official of the hospital told this scribe that the hospital administration has introduced a foolproof system to ensure that medicines are provided to the patients and no pilferage is taken place. Various committees have been formed to keep close watch on the disbursement of medicines. In case of costly medicines, empty of used medicines are received back from the concerned ward. He said that the hospital administration is also going to start provision of free medicines to the patients admitted in Urology and Orthopaedic wards.
He said that patients undergoing heart surgery and those facing cancer are also getting totally free treatment in the hospital. Mayo Hospital Lahore has been divided into eight zones to enhance efficiency and ensure proper check and balance, he added.
According to him, Dr Fayyaz Ranjha soon after assuming the charge as Medical Superintended on April 7, 2003, took various steps to make the hospital patient-friendly. With a view to providing quality services to patients, he has sought help of philanthropists. Moreover, strict disciplinary action has been taken against quite a good number of officials on account of negligence while services of dozens of employees have been terminated, he added.
According to him, instead of questioning lower grade employees, the AMS and DMS are being held answerable. The performance of various wards/ units is being reviewed on daily basis to review performance. The sources also claimed that Mayo Hospital has taken a lead among the health institutions of the country in the surgery of patients having pancreatic, oesophageal and stomach cancers. Such cases are being referred to Mayo Hospital Lahore from various parts of the country including NWFP.