Health authority outsources seven BHUs
The process of outsourcing Basic Health Units (BHUs) in Rawalpindi district and converting them into Maryam Nawaz Clinics is underway.
So far, seven BHUs have been outsourced and an additional 20 are expected to be outsourced soon.
These clinics will provide citizens with free, quality healthcare services, with all expenses to be claimed from the Government of Punjab.
A total of 27 BHUs are being turned into Maryam Nawaz Clinics.
Once the renovation work on other BHU buildings is completed, they will also be included in the outsourcing process.
Each Maryam Nawaz Clinic will be responsible for providing free laboratory tests, doctor consultations, and medicines to all incoming patients.
According to officials, the primary reason for converting BHUs into Maryam Nawaz Clinics is the longstanding inefficiencies in the public health system.
These include irregular attendance by doctors, reluctance to serve in remote areas, lack of medicine availability, and the absence of basic laboratory testing facilities.
Despite previous attempts to address these issues, tangible results could not be achieved, they said.
Officials reported that since the outsourcing began, there has been a noticeable improvement in the delivery of free medical services. According to District Health Authority Chief Executive Dr Asif Arbab Niazi, all BHUs in Rawalpindi will gradually be outsourced and converted into Maryam Nawaz Clinics.
He emphasised that the initiative will especially benefit rural populations by providing them with quality healthcare free of cost.
A comprehensive plan has been prepared to ensure consistent and effective health services through this model, he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
24-05-2025
- Express Tribune
WB team, first lady visit houses for flood victims
A delegation of the World Bank's top officials, accompanied by the First Lady MNA Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited a health facility and interacted with the beneficiaries of the government housing project for flood victims in Benazirabad on Friday. WB Managing Director Operations Anna Bjerde and the Country Director for Pakistan Najy Benhassine also interacted with the people at the hospital and in the government built houses. The delegation was also taken to stalls displaying locally manufactured handicrafts. The delegation toured the Basic Health Unit (BHU) in Jam Sahib and engaged with the health workers and patients to gain firsthand insight into the healthcare services being provided at the facility. Sindh Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechuho and other health officers briefed the delegation, telling them that the BHU received more than 20,000 patients every month including a record 5,471 Outpatient Department (OPD) service. They apprised that in terms of the family planning services the BHU has surpassed its goal by 125% and its contraceptive services department has achieved 71% of its monthly target. They claimed quality maternity services and antenatal care, which included trimester check-ups, are also being provided at the BHU. WB MD Anna Bejerde, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, CM Murad Ali Shah, Health Minister Pechuho and WB Country Director Najy Benhassine visited the flood rehabilitation housing project in village Nazr Muhammad Laghari Goth, Shaheed Benazirabad district. The delegation later met female members of the Village Reconstruction Committee (VRC), formed under the Sindh Peoples Housing Project, who displayed their handicrafts. They also visited houses in Nazar Mohammad Leghari village, where they handed over ownership documents to the beneficiaries. Bejerde reaffirmed the World Bank's commitment to supporting the Sindh government in flood recovery efforts, praising the resilience of the local people and the leadership's dedication. Aseefa highlighted that granting women ownership rights under the SPHF project is a historic socio-economic empowerment initiative by the Sindh government, significantly benefiting rural women.
Express Tribune
19-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Health authority outsources seven BHUs
The process of outsourcing Basic Health Units (BHUs) in Rawalpindi district and converting them into Maryam Nawaz Clinics is underway. So far, seven BHUs have been outsourced and an additional 20 are expected to be outsourced soon. These clinics will provide citizens with free, quality healthcare services, with all expenses to be claimed from the Government of Punjab. A total of 27 BHUs are being turned into Maryam Nawaz Clinics. Once the renovation work on other BHU buildings is completed, they will also be included in the outsourcing process. Each Maryam Nawaz Clinic will be responsible for providing free laboratory tests, doctor consultations, and medicines to all incoming patients. According to officials, the primary reason for converting BHUs into Maryam Nawaz Clinics is the longstanding inefficiencies in the public health system. These include irregular attendance by doctors, reluctance to serve in remote areas, lack of medicine availability, and the absence of basic laboratory testing facilities. Despite previous attempts to address these issues, tangible results could not be achieved, they said. Officials reported that since the outsourcing began, there has been a noticeable improvement in the delivery of free medical services. According to District Health Authority Chief Executive Dr Asif Arbab Niazi, all BHUs in Rawalpindi will gradually be outsourced and converted into Maryam Nawaz Clinics. He emphasised that the initiative will especially benefit rural populations by providing them with quality healthcare free of cost. A comprehensive plan has been prepared to ensure consistent and effective health services through this model, he said.
Express Tribune
21-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Eight held over irregularities in Ramazan relief package
The district administration has taken action against officials and retailers involved in irregularities related to the Nigahban Ramazan Package (NRP) 2025. Four medical officers from the District Health Authority and four union council secretaries have been suspended due to unsatisfactory performance, non-compliance with departmental directives, and a sluggish approach to delivering pay orders to beneficiaries at their doorsteps. Additionally, 12 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against device retailer agents (DRA) for illegally deducting money from beneficiaries across the district. The Punjab government launched the Ramzan relief package to support low-income families by providing pay orders for purchasing essential food items. To ensure fair distribution, the district administration formed 1,076 survey teams, consisting of revenue staff, union council secretaries, and medical officers, to collect accurate door-to-door data. As a result, 237,234 eligible beneficiaries were registeredthe highest number recorded in Punjab so far. Authorities disclosed that 225,750 pay orders have been successfully distributed, covering 89% of the total beneficiaries. However, 6,857 pay orders were returned due to various reasons, including 1,659 deaths, unmatched CNIC records, overseas migration, and 234 cases of unverified biometric identification. Faisalabad Deputy Commissioner Capt (retd) Nadeem Nasir confirmed that disciplinary action was taken against officials responsible for negligence. Those suspended include medical officers Rehana, M Zeeshan, Iftikhar and M Saleem, along with union council secretaries Asif Manzoor (UC-64), Saeed Ahmad (UC-92), Ashraf Ali (UC-176), and Shaukat Ali (UC-76). A two-member inquiry committee, comprising the Deputy Director of Local Government and the Chief Executive Officer of the District Health Authority, has been formed to investigate the matter and assign responsibility. Deputy Commissioner Nasir emphasised that Chief Minister Punjab has a zero-tolerance policy for corruption and is committed to ensuring relief reaches the underprivileged during Ramadan. Additional Deputy Commissioner General Capt (retd) Tayyib Sami, who is overseeing the NRP, revealed that dozens of retailers have been arrested after video evidence surfaced on social media, exposing them illegally deducting Rs1,000 to Rs500 from beneficiaries. The district administration registered 12 FIRs under Section 420 of the Pakistan Penal Code against the involved retailers.
