Dr Akhtar Malik remarks on CEOs of health department

LAHORE: Dr Akhtar Malik, Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare, stated that only performing Chief Executive Officers will be welcomed in the health department while non-performing officers have no place to work in the health department. 

He instructed Medical Superintendents and Chief Executive Officers to install all boxed medical and biomedical equipment in health facilities and get them operational within two weeks, failing which the respective MS or CEO will be held accountable.

The Minister, Dr Akhtar Malik, delivered a speech at the 6th MS/CEOs Health Conference, held today at a local hotel and attended by CEOs of health from all districts and MS DHQ/THQ hospitals through a video link.

At the session were also Secretary Health Dr Irshad Ahmad, Special Secretary Saleha Saeed, Additional Secretaries Khizer Afzal and Muhammad Sajjad, DH Health Services Dr Haroon Jahangir, and PDs of the relevant programs.

Dr Akhtar Malik stated that the performance of CEOs over the previous two months was evaluated based on Helpline 1033, pension and dictionary cases, procurement of medicines, dengue, and polio condition indicators. 

He noted that IT initiatives, TB, AIDS, hepatitis control programs, noncommunicable diseases, BERC, and the primary healthcare roadmap were also included as performance metrics. 
HISDU and different program directors underlined their performance KPIs for CEOs.

The minister of health instructed them to ensure personnel attendance with biometric technology and prevent incorrect data from entering the dashboard. 

According to him, the Anti-Corruption Establishment has been instructed to investigate those responsible for the suspected irregularities in Mianwali's pharmaceutical purchase. 
He further cautioned that officers implicated in the late procurement of medications in the districts of Lodhran and Muzaffargarh would face severe repercussions. Dr Akhtar Malik stated that approximately Rs.3.2 billion is being spent on equipment for Punjab's healthcare facilities.

In addition to other medications, he instructed all hospitals to store sufficient anti-rabies and anti-snake venoms. On occasion, secretary of health Dr Irshad Ahmad stated that health teams are actively evaluating the performance of health institutions by visiting them. 

For the benefit of patients, all CEOs will be consulted through these conferences while implementing health changes in hospitals.

Upon his retirement, the minister of health honoured DG Health Dr Haroon Jahangir with an honorary shield.