Field Hospital & Clinic-On-Wheels in Lahore 

APP

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has decided to launch a field hospital and clinic-on-wheels project under the revolutionary program soon.

She presided over the 5th meeting on health reforms in a span of one month here on Wednesday, in which approval for such an important project was granted, along with reconstituting the health system and reviewing ongoing health projects.

The CM also accorded approval to undertaking revamping of the rural and basic health centers across Punjab.

Maryam Nawaz was directed not to delay the issuance of funds required to undertake revamping of the projects and was ordered to immediately issue Rs 16 billion to undertake upgradation of the hospitals.

She underscored that bringing improvements and reforms to the health sector is her foremost priority, adding that if any issue arises in the health sector development projects, it should be brought to her immediately.

“We would ensure the provision of quality health facilities at any cost,” she said. Where BHUs and RHCs are not available, field hospitals should be available in such areas.

Ultrasound, laboratory tests, medicines, an initial medical check-up, and examinations of mother and child facilities would be available in the field hospitals. CM apprised me that the launch of 32 field hospitals would be undertaken next month. 200 clinics on wheels would be established for the  residents of semi-urban and slums.

Doctors, LHVs, and vaccinators would be available in the clinic on wheels, along with ultrasound facilities.

The medicines for hepatitis, TB, and cardiac ailments would be provided to the patients at their doorstep.

She directed to ensure 100 percent transparency in the purchase and provision of medicines, adding that the availability of doctors in every hospital should be ensured all the time. The target to establish three medical centers in South Punjab, Central Punjab, and North Punjab has been accomplished.

CM was directed to complete all the health projects within the stipulated time frame, adding that state-of-the art hospitals would be established in every district.

The proposal to link the children’s hospitals in Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad with the Children Medical University was agreed upon during the meeting. It has been decided to undertake the induction process from grade 5 to grade 15 for skilled staff in the health department hospitals after undergoing 3rd party testing.

Maryam Nawaz informed me that the nurses would be sent abroad so as to improve their skills and training, adding that a transparent and merit-based induction process should be formulated. A check and balance system should be enforced on the boards of management in hospitals.

It was decided to reformulate the boards of management of the hospitals, and a search committee was constituted for the appointment of the vice chancellor of Nishthar Medical University.

Approval to constitute a search committee for the appointment of vice chancellors, MS, and CEOs, along with undertaking the upgrade of 43 hospitals established in the jails, was granted. The CM  directed that there should not be any hospitals without doctors, staff, medicines, and necessary medical equipment.

Secretary Health gave a comprehensive briefing about the hospitals, medicines, and other affairs and apprised that the 250-bed Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital Lahore would be completed in June 2026. PC-I of the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology, Sargodha, has been completed and will be completed in June 2026.

The plan to review the upgradation, rehabilitation, and construction of BHUs and RHCs was reviewed during the meeting. The upgrade of 31 tertiary hospitals is ongoing and would cost Rs. 36 billion. The upgrade of 21 tertiary hospitals under phase II would be launched in July 2024 and would cost Rs. 40 billion. The upgrade of the pilot project, Shamke Bhattian BHU, would be completed in 8 days. Upgrades of 2500 BHUs and 300 RHCs would be undertaken during the current year across the province.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Provincial Information Minister Azma Bokhari, Provincial Minister for P&SHC Khawaja Imran Nazir, Provincial Minister for Specialized Healthcare Khawaja Salman Rafique, Former Senator Parvez Rasheed, MPA Sania Ashiq, Secretaries, and other officials attended the meeting.