SLAMABAD: Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has described recent developments at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) as a wake-up call for the country’s health sector, stressing the need to eliminate corruption and establish an effective and transparent healthcare system.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of a medical facility for workers and their families in Sialkot, Khawaja Asif said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also taken notice of the PIMS developments and expressed hope that the matter would lead to meaningful results.
The federal minister said the fundamental purpose of the healthcare sector was to save lives and provide quality medical services, but certain elements had instead made financial gains and corruption their priority.
He said a widespread corruption nexus still existed in the health sector and stressed that effective measures were needed to dismantle it. According to Khawaja Asif, the issue should concern governments, the public and institutions responsible for overseeing the healthcare system.
Referring to Punjab, the defence minister said the provincial government had focused on improving healthcare services over the past two to two-and-a-half years, resulting in progress in several areas. However, he stressed that similar reforms were required across other parts of the country.
Khawaja Asif also raised questions about the monitoring and regulatory system for hospitals and medical institutions. He pointed out that, in some cases, individuals associated with medical colleges or hospitals had also been part of regulatory bodies, questioning the effectiveness of oversight under such circumstances.
The minister said the registration and licensing of certain hospitals had remained controversial for years. He stressed that hospitals should prioritise healthcare and patient welfare rather than treating medical services primarily as a means of earning money.
Calling corruption a cancer that had spread across the country, Khawaja Asif said governments had a responsibility to take effective action against corrupt practices. He appreciated measures being taken in Punjab and stressed the importance of collecting reliable information and data before taking action against those responsible.
Speaking about healthcare projects in Sialkot, Khawaja Asif said the city needed quality medical facilities for workers and their families, particularly because of its international reputation for industry and exports.
He expressed hope that the newly inaugurated facility would develop into a modern healthcare centre and provide improved medical services to citizens.
The federal minister said efforts were also underway to expand cancer treatment facilities from Gujranwala to Sialkot, while a rehabilitation unit for drug addicts would also be established. He said further progress on these healthcare projects would be visible over the next six months.
Khawaja Asif said the federal and provincial governments were providing cooperation and funds for the projects. He added that the District Headquarters Hospital was being expanded, while a separate cardiac treatment facility was also being established.
The defence minister said several public welfare institutions were being developed in Sialkot and the process of improvement was continuing. However, he emphasised that sustainable progress in the health sector would require eliminating corruption and ensuring a transparent and accountable system.
