Punjab health projects reach over 21 million people

ISLAMABAD: More than 21 million people have benefited from field hospitals and Clinics on Wheels in Punjab, while over 30,000 patients suffering from diabetes, hepatitis and tuberculosis have received free medicines at home, according to figures shared during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

The data was presented by Provincial Health and Population Secretary Nadia Saqib, who briefed the meeting on the progress of health initiatives and the restructuring of the department.

According to the briefing, 1,217 health centres have been revamped so far, while construction and rehabilitation work is continuing on another 895 facilities in the current phase. The meeting was also told that community health inspectors have registered more than 63 million individuals across Punjab.

Officials said cardiac catheterisation projects are currently functional in four hospitals, where 1,628 procedures have been carried out in Jhelum, Jhang, Mianwali and Vehari. Across the province, 251 surveillance assistants are digitally monitoring and tracking district and tehsil hospitals as well as health centres.

Clinics on Wheels and field hospitals

The meeting was informed that Clinics on Wheels have treated 18.2 million patients. These mobile units have also conducted seven million ultrasounds and administered vaccinations to 1.2 million children.

Field hospitals, meanwhile, have received 2.8 million patients. They have carried out 448,468 laboratory tests and performed 170,772 X-rays and ultrasounds, according to the figures shared in the meeting.

Home medicine delivery and facility upgrades

Under the home delivery initiative, 2,242 diabetes patients are receiving insulin for two months at a time. In addition, medicines are being provided to 14,286 hepatitis patients and 13,864 tuberculosis patients at their homes.

The briefing stated that in the first phase, 1,026 Basic Health Units and 191 Rural Health Centres were upgraded into modern facilities. In Phase II, another 433 Basic Health Units and 81 Rural Health Centres were improved, while Phase III includes ongoing work on 895 health centres.

Chief minister issues directions

A report on the restructuring of the health department was also presented during the meeting, and the chief minister expressed satisfaction over the progress shared by officials.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed authorities to take steps for the establishment of stroke management centres in district hospitals. She also ordered an increase in seats for nursing degree programmes in government hospitals.

The meeting reviewed the performance of the provincial health initiatives as the government continues work on upgrading facilities and expanding service delivery across Punjab.