Lahore: Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has sought a comprehensive plan for fundamental reforms in the health system, directing that short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies be submitted within 10 days.

According to Chief Minister of Punjab, a special meeting chaired by the Chief Minister reviewed the provision of free medicine, the warehouse project, the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company, Universal Health Insurance, and other related issues.

A high-level ministerial committee has been established to drive these reforms. The Chief Minister has instructed the immediate release of necessary funds and has called for measures to bring in surgeons from abroad for children’s heart surgeries. Additionally, she has emphasized the need to increase the number of postgraduate doctors specializing in this area.

To improve service delivery, there is a directive to ensure medicines are delivered directly to patients’ homes, expressing distrust in the current courier company’s performance. The Chief Minister has also mandated 100 percent attendance of doctors at Basic Health Units (BHUs) and announced that Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics will be equipped with ultrasound, ECG, solarization, and CCTV cameras. Doctors at these clinics will receive compensation for providing additional medical tests, including X-rays.

In light of recent inspections, the Chief Minister described the state of Nishtar Hospital as shocking, citing overcrowded corridors and inadequate conditions. She underscored the urgency of resolving systemic issues and implementing necessary reforms across all hospitals, emphasizing that the theft of medicines from government hospitals is unacceptable and that those responsible will be held accountable.