The Lahore High Court has directed the Punjab government to abolish the ‘parchi’ registration-slip system in all public-sector hospitals across the province within four weeks, so that patients receive medical attention without first obtaining slips or standing in long registration queues. Justice Malik Javid Iqbal Wains issued the directions while hearing a public interest petition that has been pending since 2020. Special Secretary (Health) Nabila Irfan undertook before the court that emergency and outpatient patients would get prompt treatment without a prior slip, and said the Health Department would introduce a modern technology-based patient management system. The court directed the department to submit a detailed compliance report, supported by documentary evidence, at the next hearing, and warned of action over unjustified failure to comply. For patients, this is a promised change, not yet a finished one: the four weeks are an implementation deadline, and the replacement system’s details, launch schedule and first hospitals have not yet been spelled out. The next hearing is six weeks away. Sources: Express Tribune, The Nation, Business Recorder. Written in our own words for information only.