LAHORE:The Punjab government is developing the health system in southern Punjab on modern lines and building a state-of-the-art Kulsoom Nawaz Cancer Hospital in DG Khan. The provision of modern machines in the hub and spoke model in Zahir Peer and Nishtar Hospital Multan will prove to be a big relief for the people.
Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique shared this information while chairing a meeting in the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department on Tuesday. He directed the departments concerned to ensure speedy and transparent implementation of the three projects. He also directed to give priority to the training of medical staff and timely installation of modern equipment. Based on the success of the pilot programme, it will be extended to other districts of Punjab, he added.
The meeting reviewed the Hub and Spoke Model Pilot Programme in Zaheer Pir Rahimyar Khan, the establishment of a cancer center in Nishtar Hospital Multan and the Kulsoom Nawaz Cancer Hospital, DG Khan.
The provincial health minister was briefed in the meeting that the central hub to be established in Zahir Pir will be linked to the basic health centres (spokes) of the surrounding rural areas. This hub and spoke model will provide timely treatment, better referral system and quality health facilities to patients. Under this model, an effective system will be established to immediately connect complex patients to larger centers.
The meeting was informed that the availability of a PET scan and cyclotron machine in Nishtar Hospital Multan will enable modern diagnostic facilities to be provided to cancer and other complex diseases patients of southern Punjab at the local level, which will reduce the burden on the provincial capital and other cities.
