Multan: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has called for improved supply of medicines and injections at Nishtar Hospital to further facilitate patients.
The suggestion came during a meeting of the PMA cabinet and executive committee held here, in which various issues facing the health sector were discussed.
Participants noted that timely availability of essential medicines, including life-saving drugs, remains important for smooth patient care. They observed that under existing government instructions, doctors administer medicines or injections only with written permission from the Medical Superintendent, and do not prescribe medicines from outside the hospital.
Members said that in cases where required medicines were temporarily unavailable, patients and their attendants sometimes approached on-duty doctors for guidance, adding to the workload of medical staff. PMA leaders requested the government to further strengthen the supply chain of essential medicines and injections at public sector hospitals.
The meeting also drew attention to the condition of the doctors’ hostel, suggesting that renovation work, including repair of windows and doors and improved sanitation arrangements, would benefit resident doctors.
Participants also discussed the ongoing shift towards online systems at hospitals, maintaining that additional staff and technical support would help doctors manage both patient care and digital record-keeping more effectively during emergencies. They said this would further ease the process for patients and attendants at the pharmacy as well.
Suggestions were also made regarding certain policies of the Punjab Healthcare Commission, with members proposing a review of measures related to penalties imposed on doctors at Social Security hospitals.
Members also proposed that additional faculty be provided to Nishtar-II Hospital to fully activate key departments, including the ICU, and said the matter would be raised with senior authorities for consideration.
Two separate committees were formed following deliberations on organisational and constitutional matters. Prof Dr Tariq Waqar was appointed head of the Constitutional Committee, while the Organisational Committee was headed by Prof Dr Shahid Rao and Prof Dr Masood-ul-Rauf Haraj.
A large number of senior doctors, including Prof Dr Manzar Ali, Dr Rana Khawar, Dr Sohail Arshad, Dr Amjad Bari, Dr Abbas Naqvi, Dr Hajira Masood, Dr Imran Qaisrani, Dr Rizwan Sharif, Dr Zafar Malik, Dr Ashfaq, Dr Osama, Dr Ahmed Khalil, Dr Murtaza Baloch, Dr Naeem Akhtar, Dr Zulqarnain Haider and Dr Waqar Niazi, attended the meeting.
