Punjab Minister for Specialised Healthcare & Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that year 2016 was a successful year for health sector and the province of Punjab remained polio-free which is a great success on the part of health department.
"Polio-free Punjab is proof of the fact that routine immunisation under EPI Programme and anti-polio drives were successfully launched in Punjab," Salman said while talking to the media persons here on Tuesday. Salman said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was personally monitoring the performance of health department. Various development projects had been completed in Punjab and construction work on many other projects was under way, he added.
He disclosed that 500 beds teaching hospitals were being constructed with each medical college of Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan. "It will enhance 1,500 beds capacity and latest medical facilities will be available to the patients of the concerned areas."
Salman said Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) of Lahore had been completed while the DTL of Multan to be upgraded by the experts of Ministry of Health Turkey. "Following model of Turkey, 'Motorbike Ambulance Service' is being introduced in Punjab for the provision of emergency medical aid to the people living in the congested streets where traditional ambulance cannot reach. For this purpose, 800 motorbike ambulances would be procured," he added.
Responding to a question, he informed that burn units of Jinnah Hospital Lahore and Multan had been completed, moreover, the extension block of Children Hospital Lahore also completed through which 600 beds and new operation theatres had been included in the hospital. "It would reduce the waiting lists of the patients and operations of waiting patients would be performed rapidly."