Punjab Healthcare Commission to establish divisional offices, four functional already
LAHORE: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Oct 27th, 223) The board of Commissioners of the Punjab Healthcare Commission has appreciated the PHC for its operational progress and achievements and hoped that the healthcare service delivery would be further improved with its present pace of work.
The Commissioners met here on Friday for the 87th meeting at the PHC head office with Chairperson BoC Justice (retd) Muhammad Bilal Khan in the chair. The Board was presented with the departmental quarterly – July to September – progress report for review. Chief Executive Officer PHC Dr Muhammad Saqib Aziz briefed the Board members regarding the performance of different departments.
The Board appreciated the efforts of the Commission for further expanding its organisational structure to four regional offices in Multan, Rawalpindi, Sargodha and Bahawalpur, while two more offices would be established in the near future. whereas the PHC would build its offices at all divisional headquarters of the province in due course.
During the last quarter, after a thorough evaluation, the Board gave decisions for 34 complaints, which had been earlier investigated by the Complaints Directorate. Overall, the incumbent Board has decided 182 cases. So far, the PHC has registered 3,517 complaints, 1,796 disposed of, and 914 have been decided, while 462 are under active investigation.
Moreover, the Commissioners gave their nod for the issuance of regular licences to 16 healthcare establishments (HCEs). The Board expressed its satisfaction over the steps taken for the registrations of 60,690 HCEs, and giving provisional and regular licences to 55,718 HCEs of both the public and private sectors; thereby bringing these under the regulatory ambit of the PHC. Also, during the period under review, the Commission carried out regular inspections of 493 and special inspections of 1,146 HCEs.
The BoC was told that the Commission is vigorously pursuing its anti-quackery campaign. During the last quarter, the enforcement teams visited around 6.400 treatment centres, and sealed about 1,442 quack-operated premises. Cumulatively, the PHC has so far checked over a lac and 70 thousand centres, and sealed 47,220 quacks outlets.
The Board expected the continuation of the accomplishments with the same zeal in the future too. Justice (retd) Bilal Khan, while lauding the CEO and his team, hoped that the healthcare service delivery would see more positive changes with the PHC’s good work continuing at the same pace.
While appreciating the recovery of fines from the violating HCEs, the Chairperson showed his firm belief that the day was not that far when the Commission would attain its financial sustainability in the days to come.
