LAHORE: The Punjab government plans to outsource 20 more Basic Health Units (BHUs) in Rawalpindi starting April 8, 2025, following the outsourcing of seven BHUs in the district in February. According to a private newspaper, there are a total of 98 BHUs in Rawalpindi.
The newspaper report states that 20 new BHUs will be outsourced by June 1 and will be named Maryam Nawaz Clinics. People can receive free treatment for conditions such as fever, flu, and women’s health issues. The government will compensate private doctors for providing these services.
The BHUs to be outsourced are in places like Dhoke Parh, Hayal Sharif, and Bijnial in Rawalpindi tehsil; Jajja, Dhoong, and Jatli in Gujar Khan tehsil; Bakhral and Choha Khalsa in Kallar Syedan; Karor and Malot Sattian in Kotli Sattian; Kali Mitti in Murree; and Hanesar and Mowara in Kahuta.
Dr. Asif Arbab Niazi, the head of the District Health Authority, told Dawn newspaper that the government asked for BHUs on main roads and in busy areas to be chosen. This was after the first seven BHUs were outsourced successfully. The health authority picked 20 BHUs and sent the list to the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department.
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Doctors can apply to run these BHUs by April 8. After that, the department will interview them and choose who will take over the BHUs by June 1.
Each BHU will have a doctor with an MBBS degree, a dispenser, a lady health visitor, and other staff. The doctor will give free medicines and lab tests. The government will pay each doctor up to Rs800,000 for their work.
As per the report, Dr. Niazi said the doctors must use approved medicines for things like fever and flu. The District Health Authority will check if patients are getting proper care and will send reports every week and month. The outsourced BHUs will also help with government programs like polio vaccines, family planning, and tuberculosis treatment.
When asked about the seven BHUs outsourced in February, Dr. Niazi said patients have been getting treatment there with no complaints so far. Data is being collected on how many patients are treated, and a survey will check if they are happy with the services.
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He said three times more people are visiting these BHUs now, and more pregnant women are registering there. The number of births is tracked using patients’ ID cards in a computer system, checked by a special team.
For the doctors currently working at these BHUs, Dr. Niazi said they will be moved to tehsil and district hospitals where there are empty posts. They will stay in their own tehsils.
