LAHORE: The Punjab government has imposed a ban on the use of mobile phones by hospital staff below BPS-18 during duty hours in all public sector hospitals across the province, while directing the introduction of a pager-based communication system for handling emergency alerts.
The move is part of broader efforts to improve emergency responsiveness and ensure uninterrupted patient care, as outlined in two circulars issued on July 7, 2025, by the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department.
According to the first circular, pagers will now be mandatory across all government-run healthcare facilities. The system is aimed at facilitating swift communication during high-risk situations, such as Code Blue (cardiac arrest) and Code Red (critical emergencies).
“Pagers ensure that critical alerts are received and acted upon immediately,” the circular states. All hospitals under the department’s control have been directed to ensure strict compliance.
The second circular enforces a blanket ban on mobile phone usage during duty hours for all hospital staff below BPS-18, particularly in sensitive areas like emergency wards, ICUs, NICUs, and operation theatres.
However, the ban does not apply to senior administrative personnel such as Medical Superintendents, Additional/Deputy Medical Superintendents, Senior Registrars, and Directors. The directive notes that excessive mobile phone use has been disrupting hospital operations and affecting the quality of patient care.
Medical Superintendents and department heads have been tasked with enforcing the ban, monitoring staff behavior, and submitting compliance reports within three days.
Additionally, the circulars call for strict adherence to SOPs, especially by nursing students during medical procedures like IV injections, to reinforce discipline and safety protocols.
Copies of the directives have been distributed to all public medical universities, colleges, teaching hospitals, and specialized institutes in Punjab. The Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Secretary of Health, and other key department heads have also been notified.
