LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Khawaja Imran Nazir announced a groundbreaking initiative on Thursday to digitalise birth and death records at the primary healthcare level, marking a significant milestone for the department.
The announcement was made during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), held at the PSHD committee room here. The MoU aims to integrate digital record-keeping at all Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centres (RHCs) across the province. This joint initiative between P and SHD and NADRA is set to enhance birth registration processes, making Punjab the only province sharing this data directly with NADRA. This integration allows citizens to obtain birth certificates promptly, streamlining the process and ensuring accuracy.
Khawaja Imran Nazir emphasized the vital role of Lady Health Workers (LHWs) in raising awareness among the public about this new system. He highli
ghted that the digitization initiative, including the record-sharing with NADRA, will facilitate a transition to a paperless system. He said that this move extends to government hospitals, which now maintain digital records for all patients, including those in outpatient departments (OPD) and pediatric wards. The digital records will help develop strategies for understanding the causes, factors, and prevention of diseases, and enhance immunization coverage, particularly in underserved areas.
Director NADRA, Colonel (Retd.) Saqib Mehmood, stressed the importance of digitizing birth and death data for future digital censuses. He lauded the Department of Health’s efforts in digitizing patient records, recognizing the significant impact on improving healthcare services and data accuracy.
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Gondal, DG Health Services, praised the collaborative efforts of PSPU and NADRA in achieving the National Health Sector Programme (NHSP) goals. He reaffirmed NHSP’s commitment to increasing access to quality
health services for poor and vulnerable households in Punjab and acknowledged the support of the Provincial Minister and Secretary PSHD, Ali Jan, in enhancing primary healthcare services delivery.
The ceremony was attended by prominent officials, including Special Secretary (Ops) Muhammad Iqbal, Additional Secretary (Tech.) Dr. M. Younas, Director PSPU Muhammad Ahmed Khan, and other key stakeholders. The initiative marks a transformative step in Punjab’s healthcare system, paving the way for better healthcare facilities and data management in the region.