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| A representational image of a doctor holding a stethoscope. — Unsplash/File |
Punjab Government Bans Mobile Phones for Junior Hospital Staff, Introduces Pager System to Improve Emergency Response
The Punjab government has taken a major step toward improving the quality of healthcare and emergency response in public sector hospitals. In a set of directives issued on July 7, 2025, the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department (SH&ME) announced a ban on mobile phone usage for hospital staff below BPS-18 during duty hours, while mandating the use of pagers for emergency communication across the province.The new policy, which impacts doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff in critical care units, aims to address the growing problem of unnecessary mobile phone usage in hospitals and to prioritize patient safety over personal distractions. The orders apply to all public sector hospitals, medical universities, teaching institutes, and specialized healthcare centers in Punjab.
Why the Punjab Government Has Banned Mobile Phones in Hospitals
Over the past few years, complaints have steadily increased regarding hospital staff distracted by personal mobile phones during duty hours, especially in sensitive areas such as Intensive Care Units (ICUs), Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), emergency wards, and operation theatres.
Officials from the SH&ME department noted that frequent and non-essential mobile phone use was hampering patient care, delaying medical responses, and, in some cases, contributing to operational inefficiencies.
By banning mobile phones for staff below Basic Pay Scale (BPS)-18, which includes a large number of junior doctors, nurses, paramedics, and support staff, the Punjab government hopes to restore focus on patients and ensure that emergency situations receive undivided attention.
Senior officials such as Medical Superintendents (MS), Deputy and Additional MS, Senior Registrars, and Directors will be exempted from this ban due to their administrative responsibilities, which often require constant communication with multiple departments.
The Return of Pagers: A Reliable Tool for Emergency Alerts
Alongside the mobile phone restriction, the Punjab government has directed all public hospitals to adopt a pager-based communication system. While pagers may sound outdated in the era of smartphones, healthcare experts argue they remain highly reliable for hospital settings.
The official circular explained that pagers will play a central role in transmitting critical alerts like Code Blue (cardiac arrest) and Code Red (fire or critical emergency) instantly to the relevant staff without disruption.
Unlike mobile phones, pagers do not suffer from signal congestion during emergencies and are considered faster, simpler, and more dependable for alerting multiple staff members simultaneously. Hospitals in developed countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom continue to rely on pagers for emergency medical communication, and Punjab’s health department is now adopting the same practice.
Implementation and Monitoring of the Policy
The circulars issued by the SH&ME department have been forwarded to all public sector medical universities, teaching hospitals, colleges, and specialized healthcare institutes in Punjab. Copies have also been sent to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Secretary of Health, and other relevant department heads to ensure strict compliance.
Hospital administrators have been instructed to:
Enforce the mobile phone ban across emergency rooms, ICUs, NICUs, and operation theatres.
Introduce pager systems and ensure all staff members are trained to use them effectively.
Submit compliance reports within three days of receiving the directives.
Monitor staff behavior continuously and take disciplinary action against those violating the policy.
Medical superintendents and heads of departments will bear direct responsibility for ensuring that the ban and pager system are implemented without delays.
Improving Patient Care Through Stricter SOPs
In addition to communication reforms, the Punjab government has emphasized the need to enforce strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in all medical facilities. Nursing students, in particular, have been instructed to strictly adhere to SOPs when performing procedures like IV injections, patient monitoring, and medication administration.
This measure is designed to minimize human error in patient treatment and raise the overall standard of healthcare delivery in government hospitals.
Public and Medical Community Reactions
The announcement of the Punjab hospital mobile phone ban 2025 has sparked mixed reactions among healthcare professionals and the public.
Some senior doctors and health administrators have welcomed the move, saying that it will help doctors and nurses stay focused on their patients during life-threatening situations. “We have all witnessed how mobile distractions can cost valuable seconds in emergencies,” said a senior consultant at Mayo Hospital Lahore. “The pager system will make communication faster and more professional.”
However, some junior staff members expressed concerns, arguing that mobile phones are often used for quick access to medical references, drug information apps, or even urgent family communication. To address this, officials clarified that emergency calls for staff can still be routed through hospital landlines, ensuring no critical messages are missed.
A Broader Healthcare Reform Strategy
Health experts believe this policy is not just about banning mobile phones but is part of a broader healthcare reform plan aimed at making public hospitals in Punjab more efficient, patient-centric, and technologically reliable.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab’s Chief Minister have both emphasized that healthcare reform is a top priority. Following the devastating impact of recent floods and climate-related challenges, strengthening public health systems has become even more urgent.
By modernizing hospital communication systems and cutting down on staff distractions, the government aims to improve patient survival rates, enhance emergency response times, and rebuild public trust in government hospitals.
Learning from Global Best Practices
Interestingly, Punjab’s decision mirrors global practices. In many countries, hospitals still rely heavily on pagers for emergency alerts because of their speed, reliability, and ability to broadcast to multiple staff simultaneously. In the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), for example, pagers remain in use for emergency departments despite the presence of smartphones.
By combining pager systems with strict SOP enforcement, the Punjab government hopes to bring its public healthcare institutions closer to international standards of patient care.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Hospital Communication in Punjab
While the mobile phone ban has attracted significant attention, officials insist it is only the beginning. In the near future, the Punjab government may introduce:
Hospital-wide digital communication networks integrated with pager systems.
Electronic health records (EHRs) to minimize paperwork delays.
Real-time monitoring systems for patients in ICUs and emergency wards.
Advanced training for nurses and junior doctors on rapid emergency responses.
The focus, according to the SH&ME department, is on building a patient-first healthcare culture where distractions are minimized, and every second in an emergency counts.
Final Thoughts
The Punjab government’s ban on mobile phones for hospital staff below BPS-18 and the introduction of a pager-based communication system mark a turning point in the province’s healthcare policy. By restricting distractions and prioritizing reliable emergency communication, the government hopes to save lives and improve patient outcomes in public hospitals.
Though controversial, the move highlights the seriousness with which the provincial leadership is addressing the systemic challenges in Pakistan’s healthcare sector. If implemented effectively, this reform could serve as a model for other provinces and even private hospitals across the country.
Ultimately, the success of the policy will depend on strict enforcement, continuous monitoring, and the willingness of hospital staff to adapt. But one thing is clear: in the battle between personal convenience and patient survival, the Punjab government has chosen to stand firmly on the side of patients.
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