BackgroundPakistan reported more than a million cases during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, shuffling the already resource-constrained health system that is known for its high vulnerability and lack of adaption. ObjectiveTo find out the level of preparedness of public hospitals for the novel COVID-19 pandemic in Lahore district. MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2021 among all 18 public hospitals under Specialized Health Care and Medical Education (SHC&ME) in Lahore by administering World Health Organization (WHO) and SHC&ME modified and pre-tested interviewer based and observation checklist. The level of preparedness was assessed for 11 domains, and each domain was scored as a dichotomous variable (Yes and No). Hospital preparedness was labeled as 'acceptable,' 'insufficient,' and 'unacceptable.' Descriptive statistics were run by using SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), and data are presented in the form of tables and bar graphs. ResultsOut of 18 hospitals, only three (17%) had an acceptable level of preparedness for COVID-19 (>70%). An unacceptable level of preparedness (<35%) was seen in one hospital (5%). Fourteen hospitals (78%) were insufficiently prepared (35-70%). ConclusionThe study highlights the suboptimal preparedness in 83% of the public hospitals with a consistent pattern of deficiencies in surge capacity, logistics and resource management, essential services, including diagnostics, infection prevention, and control.

Background: Occupational injuries are among the ten most common reasons of illness and death. In Pakistan, the circumstances are very grave like many other developing countries. So, it was inevitable to carry a study among industrial workers. Aims: To determine the morbidity patterns, socio-demographic determinants and to provide safe workplace environment to the industrial patients admitted in the Social Security Hospital, Lahore. Method: Cross sectional survey among industrial workers was conducted at Social Security hospital, Lahore. Total size of the sample was 385 which was distributed equivalently among all the indoor units of hospital. A structured questionnaire was administered, and data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. For quantitative variables like age, mean and standard deviation and for qualitative variables frequency and percentage was calculated. Chi square was applied among qualitative variables. Data was presented in the form of tables and bar graphs. Results: Mean +/- SD age was 32 +/- 7.5 years: 118(30%) of the sample was between 26-30 years. Majority of the patients, 366(95%), were men and 258(67%) were married. Majority of the sample, 158(41%), were illiterate. 318(83%) of the sampled patients were workers/laborers, 25(7%) had administrative duties, 17(4%) were working in office and 13(4%) skillful laborers. The incidence of injuries and accidents was remarkably high among the laborers 96(25%) followed by Gastroenteritis 50(13%), fever 50(13%) and cough & respiratory tract infections 38(10%). 298(77%) stated that most of these incidences were not reported at their workplace, 309(80%) were not using any personal protective equipment. Conclusion: Majority of the industrial patients were admitted due to accidents and injuries at their workplaces. Majority of them were young adults, married males. Unskilled labor was largely uneducated. Safety practices at workplace of the respondents were very poor. Keywords: morbidity patterns, industrial workers, social security hospital, personal protective equipment.

Background: Patients’ rights are the basic human rights and essential part of modern healthcare practice. The interaction between the patients and doctors is governed by the rights of the patients. Thus every patient has the right to be informed about their health rights. Aim: To assess the patients’ awareness of their rights in outdoor patients of Services Hospital, Lahore according to Patients’ rights charter (PRC) by Punjab Healthcare Commission. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done. The research sample of 200 outdoor patients was specified. Data was collected by interviewing the patients and questionnaire according to patients’ rights charter by Punjab Healthcare Commission was filled. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. For quantitative variable mean and standard deviation was calculated and for qualitative variables Chi-square test was applied. Results: Out of 200 patients, 173(86.50%) patients were not aware of the Patients’ rights charter. Media was the major source of awareness of patients’ rights for 111(55.50%) patients. Maximum awareness was about the right to be treated with empathy, respect and nobility irrespective of any discrimination, 188(94%) were aware of this right. While the least awareness was about the right to be made full aware of full identity and professional status of healthcare provider, only 106(53%) were aware about this right. A statistically significant relation (P≤0.05) was found between awareness of patients and their gender, educational status, occupation and average income/month. Conclusion: Overall awareness of patients of their rights was unsatisfactory. Patients should be educated about their basic health rights and how they must be treated in hospitals. Keywords: Patients’ rights, Punjab Healthcare Commission Charter.

Background: WHO Guidelines recommends ‘‘My five moments for hand hygiene” for prevention of HCAI. Objective: Toassess the knowledge and practices of medical students about HCAI and hand hygiene. Setting: Lahore Medical & Dental College(LMDC), Lahore. Period: Four weeks, in January and February, 2012. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted usingWHO’s “Hand Hygiene Knowledge Questionnaire”, among MBBS students from 3rd to final years, 2012. Data was entered and cleaned inSPSS 19 and presented in tables and graphs. Descriptive statistics was used in the forms of numbers and percentages. Results: Among227 respondents, 63% were female, 67% were 20 to 22 years old, 38% were from 3rd year, 40% from 4th year and 22% from final year,61% never received hand hygiene training and 67% never used hand rubs. Few students named unclean hands as main route (42%) andsource of HCAI (21%). Hand hygiene was preferred before touching patients (76%) and after body fluid exposure (70%). It was perceivedto be rapid (63%), effective (66%), cause of skin dryness (57%) and it was supposed to be used concomitantly with hand washing (74%),before abdomen palpation (48%), giving injection (31%), after removing gloves (22%) and making patient’s bed (31%). Damaged skin(92%), artificial fingernails (78%) and jewelry (53%) were perceived to increase hand contamination. Conclusions: There were seriousgaps in knowledge of proper hand cleaning techniques and their importance in prevention of health HCAI. Hand hygiene, must be part ofcurriculum and training of all health care providers.

Background: The aged population of the world is increasing. Old age is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. This puts burden on health services, both financially and in terms of workload. Aim: To determine the morbidity patterns and health needs of this age group. Methods: A descriptive cross¬-sectional study was conducted among the geriatric patients presenting in the outdoor department of services hospital Lahore. The sample size was 220, calculated using the WHO statistical software S size. Nonprobability convenient sampling technique was used. The confidence interval was 95% and relative margin of error was 10%. Chi-square test was used to check the statistical significance. Results: Out of 220 study subjects, 13 had only 1 morbid condition and 137 were suffering from more than 3 morbidities. Hypertension was the most prevalent morbidity (65.9%), followed by eye cataract (61.18%). Other morbid conditions in descending order were diabetes mellitus (47.27%), osteoarthritis (43.63%), coronary heart disease (38.18%), obesity (35.45%), respiratory diseases (30.90%), hearing impairment (25%). Significant association of morbidities with body mass index was observed. Almost 37.7% of respondents reported feeling of loneliness. Most of the geriatric patients were involved in religious activities (88.2%). Spectacles (55%) were the most frequently used supporting aids followed by walking sticks (26.4%). Conclusion: A high proportion of geriatric patients have more than 3 morbidities with hypertension being the most common. Body mass index and smoking were significant risk factors. Geriatrics showed prevalent psychological problems. Keywords: Geriatrics, Morbidity, Pattern, Health needs.