LAHORE: For the first time 85 per cent of Basic Health Units (BHUs) have been made fully functional by posting of medical officers there, according to Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khwaja Imran Nazir.

`Funds non-availability for BHUs and Rural Health Centres (RHCs) is now no excuse as the chief minister has given a blank cheque for the development of health sector,` said the minister at the monthly conference of chief executive ofñcers (health) here on Sunday.

The officers of health department should now perform by ensuring best [healthcare] facilities to the people, said the minister while seeking further improvement in biometric attendance system for employees at the healthcare facilities.

Khwaja Imran Nazir directed the CEOs (health) to prepare lists of the absent staff and initiate action against them under PEEDA Act.

He directed that ambulance service for pregnant women should bemade more popular among the rural population for which an awareness campaign also be launched atlocallevel.

Regarding the contingency plan for expected floods in the monsoon season, the meeting was informed about the arrangements for medical relief to the flood-affected people and vaccination of children in the flood-hit areas.

Expanded Programme on Immunisation Director Dr Muhammad Munir advised the CEOs that vaccination against measles and polio must be ensured in the flood-hit areas as both the diseases normally spread very fast in such environment.

The minister directed that sufficient stock of life-saving drugs, provision of drinking water, aquapura tablets, anti-snake venom and anti-rabies vaccine also be made available in all the medical relief camps and the health centers for saving human lives.

Observing that quackery could not be eliminated at once from the country, the minister directed the CEOs to evolve a close monitoring system of quacks and take strict action on theircriminal negligence.

`There is no hurdle in the renewal of chemists` licences and two-year extension in schedule G is being made,` said the minister while directing that a centre for online drug sale licencing system should be set up in the office of every health CEO to facilitate the people.

On the direction of the minister, Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Secretary Ali Jan Khan immediately issued the notification of suspension of Mianwali District Health Officer (Preventive) Dr Muhammad Rafique Khan. The minister had ordered Dr Khan to get a quack, found responsible for the deaths of two children suffering from measles, arrested.

Secretary Ali Jan Khan directed that supply of electricity and drinking water must be ensured in all the DHQ/THQ hospitals and basic health units. He said the government had provided a lot of funds and no excuse for non-availability of such facilities would now be accepted. Officers should purchase or get generators on rent to continue the electricity supply to the health facility.