Islamabad to be converted into healthcare model: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed officials to modernize Islamabad’s healthcare system, turning it into a model for the rest of the country.Chairing a review meeting on the Ministry of National Health Services, the prime minister highlighted the government’s commitment to improving access to healthcare nationwide.He highlighted the need to prioritize efforts to provide quality medical facilities to all citizens.The meeting included a briefing on the development of the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre, where PM Shehbaz instructed officials to accelerate construction and begin the pre-qualification process for acquiring medical and surgical equipment.The process, he added, must be conducted under the supervision of expert consultants to ensure transparency.PM Shehbaz also ordered a third-party audit of the construction work and equipment procurement for the Jinnah Medical Complex.Additionally, he called for initiating the approval process for the charter of the complex’s affiliated university.Officials informed the meeting that the Jinnah Medical Complex has been established as a company under Section 42 of the Companies Act, and its steering committee has approved the master plan.Recruitment for project management and implementation units has also begun.Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Azam Nazir Tarar, and Ahsan Cheema, along with the Prime Minister’s Coordinator for National Health, Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, attended the meeting alongside senior government officials.The prime minister reiterated the government’s resolve to enhance healthcare services, making them accessible and efficient for all citizens.