LAHORE Nov 04 (TNS): In accordance with its policy of good governance, the Punjab government is successfully trying to install Computerized Tomography (CT scan) machine at 21 district headquarters hospitals (DHQs) across Punjab.
The Punjab Government driven by Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has always been keen to take steps to improve the Punjab healthcare system, in a drive to equip all DHQ hospitals in Punjab with technologically advanced CT scan machines, has entered into an agreement with Hitachi.
Formerly in the eras preceding Shehbaz Sharif lack of essential medical diagnostic equipment was causing severe problems to the poor patients in the province, and they were being forced to pay a heavy cost for it.
Shehbaz Sharif has always said the provision of the best medical facilities to the people of Punjab at their doorsteps is the top priority of the provincial government and for this purpose all-out resources are being utilized.
Shehbaz Sharif believes the service to the mankind is the best way to worship Allah, and that’s why he is working with determination and kind heart to provide the best health facilities to the people. He believes the traditional system of the healthcare should be replaced with advanced and developed one and he is personally monitoring the healthcare system reforms.
The CT scan machines for Kasur, Vehari, Layyah, Bhakkar and Mianwali are already here and being installed and another five have reached the port. The installation of remaining machines will be completed by March 2018.
These state-of-the-art machines will further improve the service delivery and diagnosis for the patients. This facility will be available round-the-clock at DHQs.
This Initiative is in continuation of the Punjab Health Reforms Roadmap, which was initiated in April 2014, to improve the quality of healthcare facilities in Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab.
During the last three years, the Chief Minister of Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif, has quarterly reviewed the progress in the ongoing project by holding high-level meetings.
Reports have shown brilliant improvements in the percentage of fully immunized children, between the ages 12-23 months. A new vaccine for Rotavirus, a severe infection that can lead to diarrhea and vomiting among infants and young children, is now available in 36 districts of Punjab.
The percentage of skilled birth rate attendance, which includes midwives, nurses and health professionals, has registered an upward trend as compared to previous years. Most of the vacancies at Punjab’s Basic Health Units of medical officers were filled by September 2017.
This year, officials interviewed over 7,000 patients at BHUs and government facilities, every month, to compile exit surveys regarding patient care and customer satisfaction.
CT scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images of bones, blood vessels and soft tissues inside the body. CT scan images provide more detailed information than plain X-rays do. A CT scan can be used to visualize nearly all parts of the body and can diagnose the disease or injury as well as to plan medical, surgical or radiation treatment.
A CT scan machine is used to quickly examine the people who may have internal injuries from traffic accidents or other types of trauma. “CT scan is absolutely essential for district headquarters’ hospitals as it can help in the diagnoses of head injuries and other serious complications in emergency cases. The absence of these machines can be life threatening, as it is not possible for doctors to provide emergency care to trauma victims without proper diagnoses.
