A vigorous campaign would be launched for prevention, control and registration of hepatitis patients in Punjab and treatment facilities would be provided to all registered patients. For this purpose, Punjab Hepatitis Control Programme would be strengthened and its PC-I also be revised.
It was decided in a meeting chaired by the Chairman Planning & Development Department Jehanzeb Khan, here on Saturday. Besides Provincial Minister for Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique, Provincial Minister for Primary & Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir, Special Secretary Health Primary & Secondary Health Dr. Faisal Zahoor, Special Secretary Specialized Healthcare Dr. Sajid Mehmood Chohan, President Pakistan Kidney & Liver Institute (PKLI) Prof. Dr. Saeed Akhtar, Member Health P&D Dr. Shabana Haider, Principal PGMI/LGH Prof. Ghaus-un-Nabi, Principal Gujranwala Medical College Prof. Aftab Mohsin, Director Punjab Hepatitis Control Programme Zahida Sarwar, Additional Secretary Technical Dr. Asim and other officers attended the meeting. It was decided that sentinel sites would be established in all the tertiary care as well as district and tehsil headquarters hospitals for the registration, diagnosis and treatment of registered patients of hepatitis-C. Trained doctors and nursing staff would be deputed at these sentinel sites. Chairman P&D directed that vigorous awareness campaign should be launched in the province for creating awareness and motivate the hepatitis patients for registration, for this purpose, elected public representatives and local bodies should also be taken on board. Jehanzeb Khan said that spending billions of rupees on the prevention and treatment of the hepatitis patients is an investment through which these patients would be able to return back in normal life and they would be able to earn for their families. It would be reduced the economic burden on the economy. On this occasion, Minister Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Kh. Salman Rafique said that provision of quality healthcare services and prevention of diseases is the mission of Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for which both the Health Departments are taking consolidated measures to achieve the goal. He further said that PKLI would play vital role for training and capacity building of doctors, nurses posted at the sentinel centers besides, playing third party role to monitor the quality of services at these centers. Chairman P&D Jehanzeb Khan said that Punjab government would provide funds through Punjab Hepatitis Control Programme for training, capacity building of the doctors, nurses and for providing treatment to all the registered patients. Minister for Primary & Secondary Health Kh. Imran Nazir said that “public sector hospitals are providing medical cover to millions of patients and thousands patients are being cured from these health facilities on daily basis”. He said that government hospitals and Hepatitis Control Programme is a big source of medical treatment for poor patients. Earlier, Director Punjab Hepatitis Control Programme Dr. Zaida Sarwar briefed the meeting that so far the programme is providing treatment facilities to 30 thousand hepatitis patients, however, new initiatives would help registration of new patients. Member Health Dr. Shabana Haider informed that health insurance scheme is also providing health cover for the poor hepatitis patients through health card. President PKLI Prof. Saeed Akhtar assured that Pakistan Kidney & Liver Institute is ready to extend all cooperation and technical expertise to the Punjab government for prevention of hepatitis in Punjab.