Increasing accessibility: Health dept allocates Rs1 billion to DHQ, tertiary care

To improve emergency services, provide free medicines, diagnostic tests

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa health department has decided to issue funds for procurement of medicines for accident and emergency department as well as free services at all tertiary care, district headquarters and women and children (W&C) hospitals across the province.

According to officials dealing with the issue, funds will be issued under special initiatives 2015-16 where besides improving the emergency department, free diagnostic services will also be provided to all those patients who visit casualty for emergency treatment or/and are admitted at cardiac intensive care unit (CCU), intensive care unit (ICU), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and nursery for 72 hours.

They added free medicines and hygiene kits will also be provided to pregnant women till they delivered their babies and were discharged from the facility.

The objective of allocating Rs1 billion to health facilities was to ensure free treatment, medicines and diagnostic services can be offered to people wounded in terror, burning and similar attacks until they recovered and were discharged.

Rolling the ball

The decision, according to a senior health official who requested anonymity since he was not entitled to talk to the media, was taken during Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) meeting held earlier.

“It was decided that a sum of Rs1 billion will be allocated to 35 health facilities across K-P, including five women and children hospitals,” the official said, adding the scheme has been placed before PDWP for consideration and approval.

A total of Rs40 million has been allocated to four women and children hospitals – one each in Bannu, Karak, Kohat and Lakki Marwat while Rs0.5 million was allocated to women and children hospital in Haripur.

According to documents available with The Express Tribune, Rs70 million was allocated to teaching hospitals, including Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex and Ayub Teaching Hospital.

Around Rs55 million has been allocated to Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals, Rs45 million to Mardan Medical Complex and Rs25 million to Khalifa Gul Naseeb Teaching Hospital, Bannu. Moreover, Rs35 million each was allocated to DHQ hospitals in DI Khan, Abbottabad and Mansehra and Rs30 million each was allocated to DHQ hospitals in Charsadda, Nowshera, Shangla and Upper Dir.

The documents also stated Rs25 million each was allocated to DHQ hospitals in Bannu, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Tank, Haripur, Lower Dir and Chitral while Rs20 million each was allocated to DHQ hospitals in Hangu, Lakki Marwat and Upper Dir. It also read Rs15 million was allocated to Mufti Mehmood Teaching Hospital DI Khan.

The official also stated that earlier funds were allocated in Annual Development Program (ADP), approved in the budget in June and then released in October, however, “This time we will make sure funds are released soon after the budget is passed by the provincial assembly.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2016.