Lahore: Health Minister Yasmin Rashid said on Monday that the need of the hour was to establish new health facilities in view of the population growth in the city.
Presiding over a meeting at the office of the Infrastructure Development Authority (IDAP), Punjab, the Minister said that two to three major hospitals would be completed within the current year. P&D Secretary Mujahid Sherdil, Special Secretary, Special Health Care and Medical Education Department, Dr Asif Tufail, Special Secretary Primary and Secondary Health Department Dr Farooq Naveed, Chief Planning Officer Abdul Haq Bhatti and officials of IDAP were present in the meeting.
The Minister reviewed 14 projects of Department of Primary and Secondary Health and Department of Specialized Health Care and Medical Education.
The minister said, “All the ongoing projects in the health sector are being reviewed regularly and they will be completed within the stipulated time frame. Projects of this scale have not been undertaken on this scale. Thousands of patients will get new health facilities after the new hospital is built.
There is no dearth of money for health. Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar are keen to provide high quality healthcare facilities to the people of Punjab. In view of the increasing population, establishment of new health facilities is the need of the hour. The expansion of services is paramount in the teaching hospitals of Lahore. Two to three new hospitals will be fully completed within the current year.
Meanwhile, presiding over the Cardiac Monitor and Cannula Handing Ceremony at Mayo Hospital, Dr Yasmin Rashid said that since January 1, 2022, more than 35,000 people have availed free health insurance facility in Lahore Division.
The Minister said, “There have been some milestone developments in the health sector in the last few years. Prime Minister Imran Khan fulfilled his promise of free healthcare by giving Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Cards to all families. In the next three years, the government will spend Rs 399 on the provision of free health services. Health insurance of Rs.10 lakh has been given to every family in Punjab.
This card has also given impetus to development in the private sector. According to available data, people in Lahore division alone have availed free health facilities worth Rs 12 crore from private sector and Rs 2 crore from public sector hospital.
New government hospitals are being renovated, upgraded and developed throughout the province. Health cards will be given to all three crore people of Punjab by March 31. The cards will be given to the head of the family only. Cards will also be given to divorced women and windows. Free health facilities will also be provided to Thalassemia patients.
Yasmin Rashid highlighted that in the last three years more than 48,000 new appointments have been made in the health sector through merit and transparency.
Professor Dr Asad Aslam Khan said that Mayo Hospital has earned global recognition for quality eye care services. He said that Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has always served humanity selflessly. Professor Dr. Sohail Sarwar thanked the participants and paid rich tributes to the Minister for working tirelessly to improve health services for the people of Punjab.