LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced the immediate implementation of the Red & Blue Code Emergency System in all government hospitals across the province, according to ARY News. The move marks a key milestone in a sweeping set of reforms aimed at overhauling the province’s healthcare system.
Maryam Nawaz directed the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department to activate the new emergency protocols within 48 hours, following mandatory training and rehearsal sessions for medical personnel to ensure preparedness and efficiency.
As part of the broader reform agenda, the Chief Minister also approved the establishment of a CM Health Vigilance Squad. The squad will assess healthcare facilities and monitor compliance with emergency protocols, accountability standards, and overall service delivery.
The Red & Blue Code System is designed to standardise and strengthen hospital responses during medical emergencies, making it the core of the new emergency preparedness framework.
Additional key reforms and directives include:
- Ventilators for All Major Hospitals: Every teaching and district hospital must now be equipped with ventilators for both adult and pediatric patients.
- Cardiac Care in Remote Areas: Heart specialists and surgeons will conduct weekly visits to underserved districts until new catheterisation labs (cath labs) become operational.
- Specialist Recruitment: A comprehensive list of required specialists has been requested to prevent treatment delays and ensure timely medical care.
- Merit-Based Leadership Appointments: CEOs and Medical Superintendents will be appointed through merit-based interviews to improve hospital administration.
To reinforce hospital efficiency and transparency, CM Maryam Nawaz has ordered:
- Facility-Wide Audits covering medical equipment, mortality rates, laboratory performance, and nursing operations.
- Quality Control Through Outsourcing: Services like cleaning and parking will be outsourced and closely monitored.
- SOP Display and Enforcement: Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for student nurses, particularly for administering injections, must be clearly posted at all hospitals.
Communication and safety protocols are also being revamped:
- Pager System for Internal Coordination will be introduced.
- Mobile Phone Use Banned during staff duty hours.
- Only Trained Nurses will be posted in emergency and pediatric wards to ensure patient safety.
Infrastructure improvements include:
- Activation of CT Scan and MRI Machines across facilities.
- CCTV Surveillance Installation for enhanced monitoring.
- Creation of a Neutral Complaints Cell to address patient grievances.
Maryam Nawaz further directed that essential medicines be provided free of cost, with daily stock updates publicly displayed to ensure transparency. Trauma centres will also be set up near emergency units, with strict adherence to international life-saving standards.
These comprehensive reforms signal a major transformation in Punjab’s public healthcare sector, aiming to improve both patient care and institutional accountability.
