The Punjab health minister has said his government is trying to raise the standard and quality of treatment in hospitals with more free medicines and health facilities.
Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal told reporters at the opening of an emergency ward and foundation laying ceremony of the Post-graduate Medical Institute by the chief minister here at the Lahore General Hospital on Friday that the government was taking solid measures to enhance the capacity of universities.
He said the government was providing opportunities to doctors for inland and outland training in various disciplines of medical profession to update their knowledge in the advancement of medical technology under its reform agenda.
He said research facilities were being provided to young doctors and for the first time in the history of the province, the government had established a medical research fund and Rs 10 million each had been provided to medical colleges for research.
The Punjab Health Foundation (PHF) was providing loan to private practitioners to establish their clinics and buy equipment and this facility was available for setting up new clinics and upgrading the already established clinics and hospitals and interest-free loan, limit had been enhanced from Rs 1.2 million to 1.5 million.
The minister also said his government had provided a special grant of more than Rs 2 billion to teaching hospitals to strengthen emergency medical services.