The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has suspended surgeries at 21 operation theatres of 19 hospitals and issued show-cause notices to 35 healthcare establishments for not implementing the Minimum Service Delivery Standards.  According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, during the last two days PHC teams visited 36 hospitals of 20 districts and carried out inspections of the public and private sector hospitals. The PHC had also issued show-cause notices to 10 hospitals for not implementing measures for disposal of hospital waste.  The Commission had directed the respective administrations of these hospitals to suspend surgeries in these OTs, and these would be functional only after the administrations concerned would have ensured implementation of the standardised measures. They were also directed to submit laboratory reports and written replies to the PHC. Since this January, the PHC had inspected 310 HCEs, suspended surgeries in 235 OTs and served show-cause notices to 265 hospitals for not implementing the MSDS and violating the PHC Act 2010. –Staff Reporter

Fake cosmetics factory sealed

The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) sealed a fake and illegal cosmetics factory here in the provincial capital on Wednesday.  The cosmetics unit was working in a house and fake packaging of some multinational companies was being used in shampoo, hair colour and beauty creams. The task force also took huge quantity of prepared stock of packaging, material and prepared cosmetics. The cosmetics unit was preparing Bio Amla Hair oil and Prama Hair Oil Scheme at the cost of Rs25 per packet.  The authority also sealed another 8 illegal brands of bottled drinking water discarding huge quantity of prepared water bottles in the provincial capital. According to PSQCA officials, on directions of Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain and Director General Khalid Siddiq ordered the task force to take strict action against illegal brands. On which special task force led by Deputy Director Rizwan Ali raided different areas of the city including Model Town, Samnabad, Bahar Colony, Thokar Niaz Baig and Kot Lakhpat and found some illegal water brands and a cosmetics factory working without PSQCA license. The task force also sealed Crystal Care, Aqua Shilling, Crystal, Aqua String, Faizi Water and Delite Water Brands on the spot and discarded huge quantity of prepared bottled drinking water on the spot. Director general of the PSQCA ordered the task force to continue the action against illegal brands of water and said that strict action would be taken against the companies involved in preparing substandard and illegal food items. He said that special teams have been formed to check illegal water brands which would visit different markets and collect samples from open market. He said that on directions of Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, no illegal brand would be permitted to continue business. –Staff Reporter

Health forum concludes

The two-day Punjab Human Development Forum 2018 concluded here on Wednesday. Minister for National Health Services Regulations and Coordination Sara Afzal Tarar was the chief guest at the concluding session.  Speaking to audience, mainly comprising development and health experts, the minister laid stress on the need for multi-sector approach for implementation of all initiatives discussed at the forum. “We must learn from the extensive experience of the experts present here so that objective of organizing this forum could be achieved.” –Staff Reporter

 Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, chairman of Planning and Development Board in his address said, “In the present day world, investing in nutrition is an absolute necessity, and not a luxury and Punjab government is giving due priority to this fact. “Good nutrition lies at the heart of human development and brings about progress in health and education to in turn generate gender equity, poverty reduction and employment opportunities. –Staff Reporter