LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to prohibit the use of mobile phones by nurses and paramedical staff during their duty hours in hospitals.
A meeting was held in Lahore under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, during which a consensus was reached on establishing a CM Health Vigilance Squad. The meeting also decided that mobile phone usage by nurses and paramedical staff during shifts will be restricted.
The Chief Minister directed the implementation of a pager system in hospitals as a replacement for mobile phones for communication purposes during duty hours.
Maryam Nawaz instructed the immediate enforcement of Red and Blue Code emergency systems across hospitals within two days. She also directed the provision of ventilators in all teaching and district hospitals.
Furthermore, she emphasized that cardiologists and surgeons should be available to serve in district hospitals twice a week, criticizing the practice of sending patients to other cities for treatment as unjust. She assured that such practices would no longer be tolerated.
The Chief Minister also ordered audits of hospital equipment, mortality records, laboratory procedures, nursing records, and overall record-keeping. She instructed the Secretary of Health to personally conduct interviews for the appointment of Chief Executive Officers and Medical Superintendents.
