LAHORE (Kashmir English): The Punjab government has decided to make public hospital security guards, ward boys, nurses and pharmacy staff wear body cameras as part of wide-ranging reforms aimed at improving security and service delivery.
The decision was taken at a meeting where the progress of ongoing health projects was reviewed. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz chaired the meeting.
The meeting also decided to ban the use of mobile phones by doctors and nurses during duty hours to ensure better patient care.
Taking serious notice of public complaints against private security guards deployed in hospitals, the CM directed strict action and accountability. She also directed all government hospitals to complete full steam cleaning by 9am daily to maintain hygiene standards.
The CM directed authorities to prepare a new and modern medicines list for government hospitals and to constitute a dedicated committee for this purpose.
CM Maryam expressed concern over medicine shortages, saying the government was allocating Rs80 billion for medicines, and termed the unavailability of drugs “incomprehensible”.
Punjab government hospitals
The participants were informed that Punjab government hospitals may be allowed to procure modern Chinese-made medical equipment to upgrade healthcare facilities. The chief minister also ordered a seamless mechanism to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medicines in the hospitals.
The meeting also decided to establish a Medical Superintendent pool across Punjab, with salary increases linked strictly to performance. Community health inspectors will be assigned the responsibility of conducting hospital surveys.
Officials informed the meeting that more than 2,500 doctors have secured jobs in Punjab within less than two years. The meeting was also told that 585,000 patients have been registered across Punjab for home delivery of cardiac medicines, while 6,000 hepatitis and tuberculosis patients are also receiving medicines at their doorsteps.
