Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that provision of healthcare facilities to the common man is essential for setting up a robust society.
He said that there is a lot of room to bring improvement in health sector. There is a need for utilizing all out energies for this purpose and developing a system under which modern health facilities could be easily available to the poor in government hospitals. The VIP culture has dominated government hospitals and the poor patients are ignored. Those associated with the health sector will have to ponder why people prefer private hospitals to public sector hospitals for treatment and bear huge expenditure despite the fact that all facilities are available in government hospitals.
On visiting the Gulab Devi Hospital, he said, it has become one of the leading heath institution of the country with the sustained efforts of philanthropists, doctors and paramedical staff and thousands of people are benefiting from the hospital. The Chief Minister announced to increase the annual grant of Gulab Devi Hospital from Rs 100 million to 130 million. He was addressing a ceremony held in connection with 75th founding day of Gulab Devi Hospital at Lahore. Members of national and provincial assemblies, Chairman Managing Committee Gulab Devi Hospital Syed Shahid Ali, philanthropists, local and foreign health experts, senior doctors and paramedical staff were also present on the occasion. Addressing the ceremony, the Chief Minister said that Gulab Devi Hospital consisted of 34 beds when it was established in 1934 but now it has a capacity of 1500 beds with the cooperation of philanthropists and the government and became the largest hospital of the country for the treatment of TB patients.
It is encouraging that besides TB, heart and other diseases are also being treated in the hospital. He said that philanthropists deserve much praise for equipping the hospitals with latest facilities and providing best healthcare facilities to patients. The government is paying full attention to providing healthcare facilities to the common man and revolutionary steps have been taken in this regard so that people should go to government hospitals for treatment. Despite efforts of the government to bring improvements in health sector, there is still an impression that private sector is providing quality healthcare services and principals, professors, medical superintendents, nurses and other staff should find out why this impression exists. We have talent and resources but what we lack is a passion and commitment. If the nation adopts a spirit of honesty and hard work no hurdle can impede national progress.
Medical Superintendent Dr Akram presented the welcome address and informed about the healthcare facilities being provided in the hospital. Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated International Chest Conference and inspected stalls set up by various pharmaceutical companies. He also gave away gold medals to doctors and paramedical staff for their best performance.
He said that there is a need for commitment to the service to distressed humanity and making Pakistan a welfare state in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. The Chief Minister said that the country cannot be put on the road to progress without rooting out corruption. During the regime of the previous government, national resources were plundered, nepotism was promoted and merit was flouted. There are shocking tales of loot and plunder during the past 10 years of dictatorship. Citing the example of Lahore-Kasur Road, he said that resources were looted in this Rs 5 billion project and favourite contractors were awarded contracts without right of way and they were given advance payments but they fled to Dubai after receiving the payments. He said that when he came into power the project was in ruins and when action was taken against corrupt contractors, they got a stay order from Dogar courts.
The Chief Minister infformed that he took up the project as a challenge and initiated action against corrupt contractors. The project has now been completed and is a masterpiece of construction and is even better than Ring Road and Motorway. He said that every member of the society will have to play his role to eliminate the menace of corruption and achieve progress and prosperity. Praising the services of Chairman Managing Committee Gulab Devi Hospital Syed Shahid Ali and his family for the hospital, the Chief Minister said that Allah Almighty will reward him and other philanthropists for working for a noble cause.
Earlier, Chairman Managing Committee Gulab Devi Hospital Syed Shahid Ali, while addressing the ceremony, said that the hospital is equipped with latest facilities and internationally recognized diagnostic facilities are available in the hospital. Thousands of poor patients are daily being treated in the hospital and they are also being provided free food.