The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Lahore has raised serious concerns about a new software system used in Punjab’s public teaching hospitals. The association says the system is not working properly, causing problems for doctors, pharmacists, and patients, and could put patient safety at risk.
Professor Shahid Malik, PMA Lahore President, said the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) installed the software in outpatient departments, but it is unreliable. Doctors enter patient details, but often the records don’t show up later. Prescribed medicines sometimes cannot be seen at hospital pharmacies, leaving patients waiting or returning without treatment.
He also highlighted that token numbers given to patients often don’t match the system, creating confusion and mismanagement in hospital queues. Staff have to fix these errors manually, which slows everything down and can affect patient care.
Professor Malik added that the software was introduced without proper testing or pilot trials. Senior doctors and experts were not consulted before it was rolled out in major hospitals.
Because of this, patients at Lahore General Hospital, Services Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, and other public hospitals are facing daily difficulties, including long queues, delayed medicines, and repeated visits.
Professor Malik urged the Chief Secretary Punjab to stop using the faulty software immediately. He called for a high-level inquiry to hold PITB officials accountable and said future digital health decisions must involve senior doctors and stakeholders.
He warned that if no action is taken soon, the situation could disrupt the healthcare system and endanger patients’ lives.