LAHORE:Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has said arrangements have been completed to deal with emergency situation in hospitals on the occasion of Basant festival.
A strategy has been decided to provide a medical cover in City on the occasion of Basant. A meeting was held in the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department. In the meeting, the minister said in view of possible accidents during Basant, the presence of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff should be ensured in all government hospitals and emergency wards should be kept fully functional.
Additional resources have been provided in hospitals, including essential medicines, surgical equipment, blood availability and ambulance services, so that any emergency situation can be dealt with immediately, the minister said.
He directed the authorities concerned that no negligence would be tolerated in the treatment of patients and all arrangements should be continuously monitored. The minister also appealed to the citizens to take precautionary measures on the occasion of Basant and ensure compliance with the law so that precious human lives can be protected.
Khawaja Salman said that instructions have also been given to prepare a list of blood bags and blood donors. Beds will be allocated in hospitals for Basant while X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan and MRI machines will be kept functional.
More than 1200 rescuers, 56 ambulances, 24 fire vehicles and 300 rescue motorbikes will be deployed at important places in the provincial capital. Rescue 1122 will also be on high alert during Basant. Special rescue teams will also be deployed in the inner city, Mazang, Ichhra, Shad Bagh and Data Darbar- Rescue teams will be available from nearby districts for immediate backup to respond in case of any major emergency.
Meanwhile, the 107th meeting of the Board of Directors of Punjab Health Initiative Management Company was held under the chairmanship of Khawaja Salman Rafique. The meeting was informed that important steps are being taken towards implementing revolutionary and historic initiatives in the health sector of the Punjab government and a briefing was given on the implementation of the Chief Minister Stroke Programme.
Khawaja Salman said that under the Chief Minister Stroke Programme, free treatment facilities worth over Rs3 billion will be provided to stroke patients every year. A decision in principle has also been taken to appoint a neurologist and pediatric neurologist in every DHQ.
A mechanism is being explained to immediately provide three-month stroke management training to doctors and nurses in every district, the minister said. Steps are also being taken to start a telemedicine project for stroke patients. Doctors of district hospitals will be able to contact specialists and consultants by telephone for immediate treatment of stroke patients, he added.
