Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has issued a crucial directive to implement the Red and Blue Code emergency system in all government hospitals within the next two days, aiming to drastically improve emergency response and save lives.
During a high-level meeting focused on enhancing primary and secondary healthcare services, Maryam Nawaz emphasized the urgent need for modernizing hospital emergency protocols. The Red and Blue Code systems are internationally recognized alert mechanisms used to manage medical emergencies—Red Code for cardiac or respiratory arrest and Blue Code for other critical emergencies—ensuring rapid and coordinated responses by hospital staff.
To guarantee effective implementation, Maryam Nawaz instructed hospital authorities to conduct thorough rehearsals and training sessions for doctors and staff on the new emergency protocols.
The meeting also resulted in a principle decision to establish a dedicated Health Vigilance Squad tasked with monitoring and ensuring quality healthcare delivery across the province.
Recognizing critical gaps in equipment, the Chief Minister ordered that every teaching and district hospital must be equipped with ventilators for both children and adults to better manage respiratory emergencies.
Further, she reviewed plans for the phased deployment of specially trained doctors in underserved districts and the establishment of state-of-the-art catheterization labs (cath labs) to enhance cardiac care facilities closer to patients’ homes.
Highlighting her commitment to cardiac healthcare, Maryam Nawaz announced that heart consultants and surgeons will provide services at district hospitals twice a week, aiming to eliminate unnecessary referrals and travel burdens for critical patients.
She condemned the ongoing practice of directing seriously ill patients to other cities for treatment due to lack of facilities, calling it “unjust and unacceptable.” She pledged that no patient would be forced to leave their district for lifesaving cardiac care anymore.
To further strengthen healthcare infrastructure, the Chief Minister has requested a comprehensive list of specialist doctors required at district hospitals to prioritize recruitment and resource allocation.
Maryam Nawaz’s bold healthcare reforms underscore her government’s commitment to accessible, quality medical care across Punjab, aiming to save more lives and reduce healthcare disparities.