Punjab hospitals go paperless under digital health reforms announced by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, marking a major shift in the province’s public healthcare system. The initiative aims to improve patient care, increase transparency, and strengthen accountability through technology driven governance.
Speaking at a conference of hospital Chief Executive Officers and Medical Superintendents in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz administered an integrity and zero corruption pledge to senior officials. She stressed that modern digital systems would help eliminate inefficiencies and ensure better service delivery across public hospitals.
District and tehsil headquarters hospitals have already transitioned to paperless operations. In addition, authorities have fully digitalized health facilitation services. Officials believe this transformation will reduce delays, improve record management, and streamline patient flow.
Stronger oversight and increased health spending
To improve oversight, the government has introduced Key Performance Indicators for hospital leadership. Authorities have also launched a new Performance Evaluation Report system to monitor doctors and medical staff. Moreover, hospitals will appoint Monitoring and Evaluation Assistants to ensure compliance with standards.
The reforms include posting dedicated administrators and procurement officers in hospitals to manage operations efficiently. Emergency wards now connect to Safe City surveillance cameras to enhance security and transparency. Furthermore, the government has imposed strict limits on mobile phone use by doctors during duty hours to ensure focus on patient care.
Maryam Nawaz announced a sharp increase in the provincial health budget. Punjab raised health spending from Rs 399 billion to Rs 630 billion. Authorities have inducted more than 1,500 doctors into public hospitals and cleared Rs 22 billion in outstanding dues to maintain uninterrupted medicine supply.
The chief minister directed hospital administrations to ensure the availability of essential medicines and fully functional equipment. She also emphasized cleanliness and efficient patient movement through color coded triage systems. In addition, the government has banned pharmaceutical representatives from entering hospitals and deployed vigilance teams to monitor facilities across the province.
Maryam Nawaz reiterated that no resident of Punjab should need to travel to another city for medical treatment. She described patient care as a sacred responsibility and highlighted the critical role of hospital leadership in delivering real results.
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In a related development, the chief minister praised the completion of more than 10,000 free heart surgeries under the Chief Minister Children Heart Surgery Programme. The beneficiaries included children from multiple provinces and regions. She also inaugurated a new intensive care unit at Children Hospital Lahore and met families during a ceremony marking the milestone.
Officials confirmed that more than 10,300 surgeries have been completed so far. The hospital has increased the number of cardiac surgeons and physicians to meet rising demand. As Punjab hospitals go paperless under digital health reforms, the government aims to create a more efficient and patient focused healthcare system across the province.
