LAHORE – Chairman Planning & Development Department Punjab Javed Aslam has said there is a need to reorganization of health delivery system besides rectifying the deficiencies of referral system for reducing maternal mortality rate. Health indicators of mother and child could be improved at primary level through a vibrant and effective system, he added.
He expressed these views while addressing inaugural ceremony of 4th Maternal Mortality Conference on Friday. He urged upon the health managers to further improve the role of doctors, nurses, lady health visitors and paramedics. He also asked them to give their recommendations to make BHUs more effective so that better health facilities could be provided to the people. He further stated that during the last few years numbers of health projects were introduced but we did not achieve the desire results. Javed Aslam said that substantial funds are being provided by the government for the betterment of health sector but restructuring of the system is necessary to achieve the goals.
Earlier, Secretary Health Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan stressed upon the health managers that they would have to expand the scope of public sector hospitals, RHCs and BHUs. He said that they would have to improve their professional attitude and to overcome the shortcomings of health delivery system so that lost confidence of patients in public sector hospitals could be restored. He said that people prefer to go to private hospitals due to impolite behavior of medics, which is a matter of concern.
He urged upon doctors, nurses and paramedics to execute their responsibilities for good name of their institutions. Secretary Health said that he has directed all the hospitals' administration that the mother and new born child should not be discharged immediately after delivery and they must kept under observation for at least 24 hours for medical checkup in the hospitals to avoid post delivery complications.
He said that action would be taken against the officials who do not registered pregnant women and strict action would be taken against the officials convincing the patients for the treatment in private hospitals. Secretary Health said that an effective accountability and monitoring system has been introduced in the health department which would improve the working of the public sector hospitals. Provincial Coordination Family Health and Primary Health Dr. Akhtar Rashid Malik, Director Rural Support Programme Farasat Iqbal, UNICEF officer Punjab Dr. Ketsamay, UNFPA Dr. Mubasher Malik, Chief of Party JSI Dr. Nabeela Ali, Deputy Country Director Safe The Children Dr. Amanullah Khan and Prof. Zulfiqar Bhutta of Agha Khan Hospital also addressed the conference. – Agencies
