Punjab CM approves plans for medical city in Lahore

LAHORE (RNN TV ) — Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired a special meeting on health reforms where various initiatives for improving healthcare services in the province were discussed. The secretary of specialised health and medical education presented a comprehensive briefing on the ongoing reforms and future plans for enhancing the healthcare system.

One of the key decisions taken during the meeting was the implementation of a state-of-the-art referral system across the province. The chief minister directed that a detailed plan be developed for the establishment of the referral system in government hospitals, aimed at reducing the unnecessary load on specialised healthcare facilities by streamlining patient referrals from health centers and smaller hospitals.

The meeting also approved, in principle, the establishment of a Medical City Authority. A medical city, modeled after those in Texas, Jeddah, and Doha, is planned to be set up in Lahore. The Chief Minister instructed the relevant authorities to identify and allocate suitable land for the project. To ensure the development meets international standards, professional consultants will be hired for the planning and execution of the medical city. The Punjab government will provide the necessary infrastructure for setting up top-tier private hospitals within the facility.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister announced that medical cities would be established in every divisional headquarters, with a focus on setting up state-of-the-art medical facilities at the district level as well.

A significant announcement was the creation of a special helpline, 999, to address matters related to government hospitals. The helpline will assist in improving the coordination and delivery of healthcare services to the public.

The meeting also included a review of recent improvements in hospital management. According to the briefing, infection control measures in government hospitals have seen a 92% improvement, and there has been a 92% improvement in the process of medication distribution. Additionally, patient facilities in Lahore’s hospitals have improved by 83%, while hospital cleanliness has increased by 84%. Other improvements include a 75% implementation rate of duty roster displays, a 75% enhancement in the complaints resolution system, and a 71% improvement in queue management.

The Chief Minister emphasized that efforts would continue to ensure the provision of quality healthcare services across the province and improve the overall healthcare system in Punjab.