LAHORE, Mar 25 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on
Friday said that Punjab government had given the biggest budget in the history of the province for public health and billions of rupees were being spent on provision of free medicines to the patients every year.
He expressed these views while addressing a meeting through video link
at Civil Secretariat here.
The meeting reviewed matters of purchase, supply and distribution of
medicines in government hospitals and the steps for improvement of medical facilities.
He said that complaints of non availability of medicines in the
hospitals were intolerable. The CM said that he would not tolerate wastage of resources of the poor nation.
Authorities of health department would have to go to field for improving
medical facilities in the hospitals, he added.
The CM said, “Provision of best medical facilities to the people is our
mission and no effort will be spared for its accomplishment.”
He said that blessings of Allah Almighty can be earned through service
to ailing humanity. He said that health department would have to be awaken and give results by discharging its duties with honesty.
He said that after giving orders for purchase of medicines, none supply
of medicines for up to four months by some companies was lamentable.
He directed to submit a report after inquiry in this regard.
Shehbaz Sharif directed to speed up the process of setting up of
autonomous authority for mechanism of purchase, supply and distribution of medicines.
He said that this authority would see the process of purchase, supply
and distribution of medicines for all government hospitals of the province.
Secretary Primary & Secondary Health Ali Jan gave a detailed briefing
with regard to purchase, supply and distribution of medicines for the hospitals.
Advisor Health Kh. Salman Rafiq, Additional Chief Secretary,
concerned secretaries and officials of health department attended the meeting through video link from Civil Secretariat.