Latest news with #DistrictHealthAuthority
Express Tribune
19-04-2025
- Health
- 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
- Health
- 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.
Express Tribune
11-03-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Rawalpindi reports two dengue cases
Two confirmed dengue patients have been reported in Rawalpindi since January 2025. Lowered temperatures due to recent rains caused the rapid growth in dengue fever. According to the District Health Authority (DHA), anti-dengue activities have been accelerated to reduce dengue risk. An anti-dengue meeting was held here on Tuesday, chaired by Commissioner Engr Amir Khattak, in which representatives from the health authority informed that 1,432 houses were found with a larvae presence out of a total of 1.46 million residences checked. The meeting was attended by Islamabad Administration and Cantonment Boards' officers and Divisional Administration officers. It was briefed that 508 indoor teams were fully engaged in the field, while 1,788 outdoor teams have been constituted. It was informed to the meeting that actions against 217 people were taken, including registering 38 FIRs and issuance of 295 challans. A total of 21 buildings were also sealed due to the violation of dengue SOPs, while a fine to the tune of Rs1,28,000 has been imposed. The Commissioner directed to take Islamabad administration and Cantt Boards on board in anti-dengue activities.
Express Tribune
02-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Pindi to outsource 20 more BHUs
After outsourcing seven Basic Health Units (BHUs) under the District Health Authority (DHA) of Rawalpindi to operate under the 'Maryam Nawaz Health Clinic' (MHNC) status, a fresh decision has been made to outsource 20 more BHUs under the same status. Citizens will receive free medical treatment, while the clinics' administration will claim billing from the Punjab government in return for the services provided. Of 100 BHUs in the Rawalpindi district, 22 BHU buildings have been revamped. Among them, seven BHUsincluding Kolian Hameed, Bajnial Gujran, Jand Melo, Kuri Dolal, Ranotrah, Mankiala, and Dakhalihad already been outsourced. These centres now have appointed doctors and supporting staff, along with laboratory testing and essential medicines. These BHUs have officially acquired the status of Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics, where citizens receive free medical care, and the billing claims are processed through the DHA and submitted to the provincial government. Furthermore, a decision has been made to outsource 20 more BHUs in the Rawalpindi district under the Maryam Nawaz Health Clinic initiative, and the process for this transition has already begun. It is noteworthy that in the first phase, the Punjab government has outsourced 150 BHUs across the province under this status, making them fully functional. In the second phase, an additional 982 BHUs are being outsourced. According to health department sources, while the infrastructure of BHUs is revamped, doctors and supporting staff are often unwilling to work there. Those who are posted either get themselves transferred through recommendations or remain absent, leaving the healthcare system to be managed by dispensers and other staff. To address this issue, the provincial government has adopted a policy to gradually outsource all BHUs across the province, giving them the status of MNHC. Chief Executive of the Rawalpindi DHA, Dr Asif Arbab Niazi, says in the first phase, when 150 BHUs were outsourced in Punjab, seven BHUs in Rawalpindi were included. Now, in the second phase, 982 more BHUs are being outsourced, including 20 additional BHUs in Rawalpindi, for which the process has already started, he adds. He further says Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics are ensuring high-quality medical treatment for citizens free of charge. The clinics' administration submits billing claims to the Punjab government through the respective DHA. This entire process is aimed at providing citizens with quality healthcare services free of cost.
Express Tribune
17-02-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Catch-up drive kicks off to inoculate infants
RAWALPINDI: A month-long catch-up vaccination campaign has been launched in Rawalpindi district to immunise children aged 2 to 5 years who missed vaccinations during the previous drive has been launched. According to medics, the jabs protect against 12 life-threatening diseases, including diphtheria, pneumonia, meningitis, diarrhea, polio, tuberculosis, rubella, typhoid, hepatitis B, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus. The initiative comes in response to an increase in child mortality rates, which have been linked to a gap in immunisation. Due to a shortage of field staff, many children in the district did not receive the required vaccinations during infancy. To address this, the health department has now launched this special campaign to ensure these children are protected. The campaign was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema, along with Administrator of the District Health Authority and Chief Executive Officer Dr Asif Arbab Khan Niazi. The launch event was attended by Dr Shumaila, Area Coordinator for WHO in Rawalpindi, Dr Ihsan Ghani, District Health Officer (PS DHA), and other senior health officials. Speaking at the event, Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema and CEO Dr Asif Arbab Niazi emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts to safeguard public health. They also highlighted the need for community participation to ensure the campaign's success. The District Health Authority reaffirmed its commitment to expanding healthcare services and achieving immunization targets through collective efforts. The campaign is expected to reach thousands of children across the district, with mobile vaccination teams deployed to remote areas to ensure no child is left unvaccinated. Local authorities have urged parents to take advantage of the initiative and ensure their children are protected from preventable diseases. Additionally, health officials have stressed the importance of continuing regular immunization practices to avoid any future gaps in coverage, aiming to safeguard the health and well-being of the next generation.
