Allied hospitals to undergo upgradation: Minister Kiani

Rawalpindi- In his address at the 12th Convocation of Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU), Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Aamir Mehmood Kiani said that it was unfortunate that no former government prioritised the healthcare sector, as only 0.9% of GDP was invested in healthcare.

The Minister said that the issue of mother and child hospital was taken up in the Cabinet meeting which decided to complete the project on special basis, “The building assessment is done and it is revealed that almost maximum structure is safe and able for further construction.” He added that the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology will be completed soon,”

The Minister ensured that the incumbent government was keen to upgrade the allied hospitals of the city and admitted the lack of facilities being provided to the patients. He acknowledged the trouble of young doctors serving in these hospitals, were managing the bulk of patients beyond their means. He promised that the government will increase their remunerations. The young doctors were  not being paid their house job allowances, which had made it difficult for the new comers to manage their expenses, and the Supreme Court’s order to the Universities pay the doctor’s allowanced sincerely and timely was appreciable, the minister remarked.
“We are revamping Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), which is not serving the masses up to the mark. A new board of doctors will be formed to look after the Council in a befitting way. However, we have also overhauled DRAP to improve the conditions of medicines provided to the patients,” the health minister said.

He thanked former Chief Justice Supreme Court Justice Mian Saqib Nisar for retrieving billions worth encroached land of hospitals in the Federal Capital, where new hospitals would now be constructed. He said that the former government was paying Rs 2000 billion interest on loans per year which was enough to develop the nation and to mitigate the 25 million out of school children ratio.
He said that the proposition to impose smoking tax, which was roughly about Rs 30 to Rs 35 billion, would be spent on improving health sector. He said that health cards issued to poor masses would also help generate income sources for not only pharmaceuticals rather doctors as well. “We are going to introduce insurance for the doctors which will provide them financial assistance,” he added.
In his welcome address, Vice Chancellor RMU, Prof Dr Muhammad Umar said that Rawalpindi Medical University was committed to provide excellent education in medicine at par with international standards. The University was the pioneer public sector medical institution in Punjab to successfully implement the integrated modular undergraduate medical curriculum for First Year MBBS class 2017-18; the university examinations were also being conducted on modular pattern which was exemplary being first in Punjab, he added.

Aamir Mehmood Kiani distributed gold medals distinction certificates and degrees among 317 medical graduates of Rawalpindi Medical University.