LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has stressed upon using all available resources for providing quality healthcare facilities to the poor at public sector hospitals. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of International Chest Conference on 75th foundation day of Gulab Devi Hospital here on Saturday, he said the public sector hospitals had become centre of VIP culture and the masses were facing difficulties in getting treatment. Parliamentarians, Chairman Managing Committee Gulab Devi Hospital Syed Shahid Ali, foreign experts, senior doctors, philanthropists and paramedical staff attended the ceremony. The CM announced to enhance annual grant of Gulab Devi Hospital from existing Rs 100 million to Rs 130 million. Shahbaz said there was room for improvement in health sector, adding the persons relating to health sector should evaluate why people preferred private healthcare centres and bear huge expenses on treatment despite availability of better facilities at public sector hospitals. Paying tributes to philanthropists for extending enormous support to Gulab Devi Hospital, the CM said the institution was providing state-of-the-art healthcare facilities not only to the patients of tuberculosis but also to the people suffering from heart and other diseases. He said administration and staff at public sector hospitals should make efforts to remove the impression among public regarding availability of better facilities at private clinics. The CM said there were shocking tales of loot and plunder during the past 10 years of dictatorship. Citing the example of Lahore-Kasur Road, he said resources were looted in this Rs 5 billion project and favourite contractors were awarded contracts and given advance payments but they fled to Dubai. He said when he came into power the project was in ruins and when action was taken against corrupt contractors, they got a stay order from Dogar courts. The CM said that he took up the project as a challenge and initiated action against corrupt contractors. Praising the services of Chairman Managing Committee Gulab Devi Hospital Syed Shahid Ali and his family for the hospital, the CM said that Allah Almighty will reward him and other philanthropists for working for a noble cause. Earlier, Chairman Managing Committee Gulab Devi Hospital Syed Shahid Ali, while addressing the ceremony, said that the hospital is equipped with latest facilities and internationally recognized diagnostic facilities are available in the hospital. He said that thousands of poor patients are daily being treated in the hospital and they are also being provided free food. Medical Superintendent Dr Akram presented the welcome address and informed about the healthcare facilities being provided in the hospital. Later, the CM inaugurated International Chest Conference and inspected stalls set up by various pharmaceutical companies. He also gave away gold medals to doctors and paramedical staff for their best performance.