The Punjab Healthcare Commission has declared a health emergency across Punjab, ordering all private hospitals to provide free treatment to flood-affected patients and allocate more than a third of their beds for their care. The move comes amid rising criticism over the lack of basic medical relief in severely impacted areas, particularly in Gujrat, where families say vital care is still out of reach.
Under the emergency plan, private hospitals are required to set aside 35 percent of their beds for flood victims and activate comprehensive emergency protocols. All intensive care units (ICUs), high dependency units (HDUs), and emergency wards must operate around the clock with uninterrupted supplies of medicines, intravenous fluids, blood products, and surgical equipment. Hospitals have also been instructed to maintain fully functional generators, secure fuel reserves, and ensure sanitation and safe drinking water are available for patients and staff.
To ensure quick and efficient care, hospitals must coordinate closely with Rescue 1122, district health departments, NGOs, and ambulance services for patient transport. They’ve also been told to prepare for possible evacuation if buildings become unsafe due to encroaching floodwaters and to establish temporary treatment facilities when needed.
The Punjab Healthcare Commission has warned that failure to comply with these directives will result in strict penalties. Despite these measures, residents in the worst-hit villages report a persistent lack of doctors, medicines, and even basic first aid in local relief camps. Many complain that, while orders have been dispatched from Lahore, the situation on the ground remains dire. Children with fevers, women with skin conditions, and elderly patients with breathing problems are still waiting for care, raising concerns about the effectiveness of official relief efforts in responding to the emergency.
