Punjab
Healthcare Sector Roadshow was held in a local hotel in London on 10 September
2017. The event was organized by the Government of Punjab in collaboration with
the Pakistan High Commission London. Senior representatives of British healthcare
companies, officials of UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT), medical
professionals and investors attended the Roadshow, says a press release
received from Pakistan High
Commission Information Division here today London.
Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif chaired
the event. In his address on the occasion, the Chief Minister gave a detailed
overview of the reforms to a wide range of British healthcare companies with a
view to seeking their feedback for further refinement of the service delivery
in the healthcare sector. He shared with the British medical fraternity that
the Punjab Government was planning to outsource major non-clinical services of
hospitals to private partners.
The Chief Minister invited the leading British companies,
providing similar services in the hospital of the UK, to take advantage of
these opportunities. He said that this collaboration would be mutually
beneficial and would augment his Government’s endeavours for effective service
delivery in the province.
Mr Shehbaz Sharif also shared with guests his
Government’s initiative of introducing his new model of hospital administration
through complete management outsourcing of newly established hospitals. He
invited the experienced companies to take up management of such facilities
under a well-defined and mutually agreed upon agreement. Furthermore, the Chief
Minister shared with the attendees that the Government of Punjab was inviting
investment in the health sector whereby, in a Public Private Partnership (PPP)
mode, entrepreneurs may come to Punjab and establish state of the art
healthcare facilities.
The British companies evinced keen interest in Punjab’s
healthcare outsourcing opportunities and PPP mode investment. Their
representatives also appreciated the reform initiatives of the Government of
Punjab. In his welcome address, H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High
Commissioner to the UK termed the Healthcare Roadshow a timely initiative of
the Chief Minister of Punjab and appreciated the reforms in the provincial
health sector. He said, on the back of an improving economy, the government is
now focused on social sector development, particularly the healthcare.
Senior officials of the Government of Punjab also spoke
on the occasion and some of them made presentations as well. They included Dr
Mukhtar Bharet, Minister for Population Welfare; Dr Umar Saif, Adviser to
the Chief Minister on IT; Mr Najam Shah, Secretary Specialized Healthcare,
and Medical Education Department; Mr. Ali Jan Khan, Secretary Primary and
Secondary Healthcare Department; Professor Saeed Akhtar, and, via video link
from Pakistan, Professor Masood Akhtar.
Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, Chairman Planning and Development
Department, Punjab, conducted the Q&A session at the end. The attendees asked
searching questions and expressed their interest to invest in the healthcare
sector of Punjab. The Roadshow provided a good opportunity to introduce
multiple reform initiatives launched by the Punjab Government in healthcare
sector to enhance service delivery in this vital aspect of human development. The
Chief Minister and his team of senior officials held follow up sessions with
the interested individual companies at the Pakistan High Commission London
on 11 September 2017.