Chief Secretary Punjab wants facilities for patients at PIMH plan ordered to rehabilitate UCH

Lahore, July 29, 2018 (PPI-OT): Chief Secretary Punjab Akbar Durrani, accompanied by Secretary Specialized Healthcare Saqib Zafar, visited Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) to review the facilities being provided to the patients. He inspected different sections of the institute and asked the patients about quality of facilities being provided to them. During visit to art section, an under-treatment patient presented gift of his self-prepared painting to the Chief Secretary.

PIMH Executive Director Dr. Mudassar Hameed Qureshi briefed that about 1000 patients are under treatment in the hospital. He said that at present the institute is facing acute shortage of doctors and staff. Besides initiating recruitment of staff at the institute a case has also been forwarded to Punjab Public Service Commission for appointments to the posts of grade 17 or above, he added. The Chief Secretary ordered that a 100-bed center for rehabilitation for drug addicts be made functional at the earliest and recruitment of doctors and staff be completed on priority basis.

He also issued instructions for planting more trees in the hospital so that patients could get a clean environment. He checked quality of food and cleanliness in the kitchen. Earlier, the Chief Secretary visited United Christian Hospital (UCH), Gulberg. He directed Secretary Specialized Healthcare Saqib Zafar to submit a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the UCH. He mentioned that this hospital can be helpful in efforts to provide quality healthcare to patients under public-private partnership.

He said that all possible resources would be utilized for provision of latest medical facilities to people. He opined that nursing and medical technicians courses can be started, using the spacious building of UCH. The Chief Secretary was briefed that UCH is being run under a board of directors. About Rs. 25 crore would be required for complete rehabilitation of UCH including repair and renovation of building, purchase of equipment, and salaries of doctors and staff. A two-year course of community midwife is being conducted at UCH whereas new courses can also be started with the help of the government.

For more information, contact:
Directorate General Public Relations, Punjab (DGPR)
Government of the Punjab
21-Mahmood Gaznavi Road (Abbot Road), Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99201390-1-2
Fax: +92-42-99201371-2
E-mail: info@dgpr.punjab.gov.pk
Website: www.dgpr.punjab.gov.pk