LAHORE: The Technical Working Group on Dengue Virus, which met with the provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique in the chair, expressed resolve to tackle the threat of dengue with joint efforts.
During the meeting, the provincial health minister gave a detailed review of the current situation of dengue virus across the province. The minister reprimanded CEO Lahore Dr. Faisal for poor performance and directed to improve surveillance. “All departments should work in unison to prevent the spread of dengue virus while the people should ensure cleanliness in their homes, shops and other places,” he said, adding: “We need to speed up and improve surveillance in the field.”
Prof Wasim Akram said that parents should take precautionary measures to protect children from dengue. Health department and other departments including Parks and Horticulture Authority and WASA have to work hard to get desired results.
The minister Khawaja Salman Rafique in a meeting reviewed the ongoing revamping projects in government hospitals, universal health insurance, air conditioners, supply of medicines, EPI EMR entries, and delivery of hepatitis medicines, hospital waste management, audit, medical education and annual procurement calendar in detail. He said that there should be no shortage of medicines in any teaching hospital of Punjab. “We are bringing innovative reforms to the universal health insurance program,” he said. He said the ongoing revamping project in government hospitals is being completed on a fast track.
He said the PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif started the health insurance program for the betterment of the people. Final suggestions experts with reference to universal health insurance will be submitted to Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
The minister said they are trying to make the health insurance program beneficial for the people. It is the end of cruelty to waste billions of rupees in the name of health facility program in the past, he said, adding: “Now we have to remove the defects in the health insurance program, as the financial model of the health insurance program has to be improved.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024