LAHORE (HANDOUT) - Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif yesterday left for Turkey where he will attend inaugural ceremony of Abdullah Gull Museum and Library besides meetings with senior officials.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogon will inaugurate Abdullah Gull Museum and Library.

Speaking before his departure, Shehbaz Sharif said that Pak-Turkish relations are strengthening with the passage of time and both the countries are bound together in strong friendly ties. He was sure that his visit to Turkey will further strengthen relations between the two countries.

After visit to Turkey, the chief minister will leave for Britain.

Before leaving for Turkey, the CM addressed a function at Model Town where he awarded cash and certificates to the officials showing outstanding performance in the campaign for eradication of spurious drugs.

Shehbaz Sharif said that a modern and foolproof system was being introduced for procurement, supply and distribution of medicines. “The Punjab government has launched a vigorous campaign for elimination of spurious and substandard drugs and the elements playing with the human lives are being dealt with an iron hand,” he added.

The CM said he will not be content until the evil trade of spurious medicines is rooted out. He also stressed the need for collective efforts to curb such evils as spurious medicines, adulteration and fraud from the society.

“It is time to meet the challenge of elimination of bogus and substandard medicines as well as theft and misappropriation of drugs.”

“Such a system is being introduced which will ensure equal medical facilities and the same medicines for the rich and the poor. Every human life is dear to me and the heinous trade of spurious medicines will be rooted out,” the chief minister said in a statement.

He also announced a cash reward of Rs1 million for giving correct and timely information about the units producing spurious medicines. The identity of the informant will be kept confidential as per law, he added.

He further said that the provincial government is set to introduce a modern system of procurement, supply and distribution of medicines. Prequalification of factories has been held for procurement of medicines this year and an agreement has been made with pharmaceutical companies that the samples of their medicines will be got analysed from a lab in Britain at their expense and if it came up to the standard, the medicines will be purchased.

In this way, Shehbaz said, the money of the poor nation will not be wasted and the same medicines will be available to the rich and the poor.

“Now the prime minister, governors, chief ministers, ministers, judges, and generals will use the same medicine as are available to the common Pakistanis.”

Similarly, he said, no one will be allowed to misappropriate medicines worth billions of rupees purchased with the hard earned money of the nation. He avowed that operation against spurious drugs will be continued.

He also thanked the delegation of Turk Ministry of Health which was present in the ceremony and said that healthcare system would be improved with the cooperation of Turkey.

Provincial ministers Malik Nadeem Kamran, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Kh Salman Rafique, Kh Imran Nazir, chief secretary, and IGP Punjab were also present on the occasion.

MOTORBIKE AMBULANCE

SERVICE

During a meeting with a Turkish delegation, CM Shehbaz informed that a decision has been taken to launch motorbike ambulance service at divisional headquarters level in Punjab with the cooperation of Turkey.

The delegation was led by senior expert of Turkish Health Reforms Programme Dr Hassan Kagil. The meeting agreed to take speedy measures for the improvement of healthcare services in the province.

“Motorbike ambulance service will be a part of Rescue-1122 and will help provide better ambulance service to the people of the province,” the CM said, adding that Punjab Public Health Agency is being set up for which model of Turkey will be replicated.

Turkish expert Dr Hassan Kagil said that the agreement with Punjab for the uplift of healthcare system will be implemented speedily. He assured all-out cooperation will be extended to Punjab government at every level for improving healthcare system and the results will soon be witnessed.