Punjab’s emergency healthcare system is undergoing a major expansion as the University of Health Sciences (UHS) launches a large-scale training program to equip 15,000 nursing students annually with essential life-saving skills. The initiative was announced during the inauguration of capacity-building workshops for nursing faculty at the UHS Jinnah Campus, marking a significant step toward strengthening emergency medical preparedness across the province.
Punjab Minister for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique said the program represents a new phase in emergency healthcare reform, emphasizing the importance of unified efforts in serving Pakistan and humanity. He praised UHS for its strategic planning and professional approach, adding that nurses deserve recognition equal to doctors for their dedication, especially in challenging conditions. The minister also highlighted ongoing healthcare reforms under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and assured full government support for UHS initiatives.
Earlier, approximately 8,000 final-year MBBS students were trained in six mandatory emergency response skills, including basic life support, advanced life support, first trauma response, neonatal resuscitation, obstetric resuscitation, and emergency triage assessment and management. Additionally, 1,000 medical faculty members have been prepared as master trainers to ensure standardized instruction.
In the next phase, 1,200 nursing teachers from 86 nursing colleges across Punjab will receive specialized training and certification as instructors. These educators will then train over 15,000 nursing students each year in core emergency care competencies. UHS Vice Chancellor Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore confirmed that passing an assessment in the six essential emergency skills will become mandatory for all health students in Punjab before they are awarded their degrees, reinforcing the province’s commitment to improving emergency healthcare services and patient outcomes.
