Punjab Orders Private Hospitals to Allocate 35% Beds for Flood Victims

Punjab Mobilizes Private Hospitals to Support Flood Victims

Emergency Directive to Address Healthcare Crisis In response to the devastating floods that have displaced thousands across Punjab, the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has issued an urgent directive requiring all private hospitals to allocate 35% of their total beds for flood-affected patients. This move aims to ease the burden on public health facilities and ensure timely medical care for vulnerable communities.

Free Treatment and Round-the-Clock Services Under the directive, private hospitals must provide free-of-cost treatment to flood victims. This includes:

• 24/7 availability of medical and nursing staff
• Adequate supply of essential medicines
• On-site presence of senior administrative officials to manage emergencies

Hospitals are expected to maintain full operational capacity to handle the surge in patient volume.

Critical Units Must Remain Fully Functional The PHC has emphasized that emergency departments, ICUs, and high-dependency units must remain active and accessible. Hospitals are required to ensure uninterrupted functionality of:

• Biomedical machines
• Ventilators and cardiac monitors
• Diagnostic services including X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs

These facilities are vital for treating injuries and complications arising from flood-related conditions.

Preventing Disease Outbreaks Post-Flood To mitigate the risk of waterborne diseases, hospitals must strengthen their monitoring systems. The directive includes mandatory preparation of evacuation plans to safely transfer patients in case of structural damage, ensuring coordination with nearby medical centers.

Strict Enforcement and Accountability The PHC has warned that non-compliance will result in disciplinary action. Hospitals are urged to implement these measures immediately as part of Punjab’s emergency healthcare response.

A Unified Effort to Protect Public Health This initiative reflects a proactive approach to disaster management, combining public oversight with private sector support. By mobilizing resources and enforcing accountability, Punjab is working to safeguard the health of its citizens during one of the most challenging times in recent history.