Punjab Forms Seven-Member Committee to Introduce Evening Practice at Government Hospitals

LAHORE: (Web Desk) The Specialized Healthcare Department has formed a seven-member committee to develop a mechanism allowing doctors to conduct evening practice at government teaching hospitals.

The issue has remained unresolved for the past three years, despite previous attempts to introduce an institutional practice system at public-sector teaching hospitals.

Currently, doctors working at government teaching hospitals generally conduct private practice at outside private hospitals during evening hours. Consequently, facilities at government hospitals, including operation theatres and medical equipment, remain largely underutilised after regular afternoon hours.

The proposed institutional practice system aims to make better use of these facilities by allowing doctors to provide medical services within government hospitals during the evening.

Dr Adnan Khan, who serves as a physician to Nawaz Sharif, has been appointed chairman of the newly formed committee.

Other members include King Edward Medical University Vice Chancellor Professor Mahmood Ayaz, Professor Mahmood Shaukat, Professor Tayyaba Waseem, Professor Muhammad Saleem, Professor Musfarah Siddiqa and Dr Hafiz Waseem.

The committee has been tasked with preparing a workable mechanism for introducing evening medical practice at government teaching hospitals.

However, recommendations submitted by previous committees on the issue have yet to be implemented, leaving the proposed institutional practice system awaiting practical progress.