K-P sets Rs16.7b for health projects in NMDs

Money reserved for phase one projects in first year of decade-long overhaul strategy

PESHAWAR: Devising a programme to uplift all sectors in the newly-merged areas, the provincial health department has proposed health-oriented schemes in these areas worth Rs16.68 billion.

Part of the ‘Tribal Decade” strategy devised by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government on the directives of the federal government, the government aims to uplift all sectors in the area with priority given to the health, education and communication sectors.

The ‘Tribal Decade’ strategy documents, available with The Express Tribune, show that in the first phase, all headquarters hospitals and basic health units (BHU) in the erstwhile federally administered tribal areas (Fata) will be upgraded.

Punjab medical sector gets a healthy boost

Moreover, in the first year of decade-long strategy, level-II trauma centres will be established in all district headquarters hospitals (DHQs) of the newly-merged districts. Moreover, all accidents and emergency centres within the NMD will also be upgraded using the latest technology. This will help lower the number of patients who are referred from the ex-Fata areas to the settled districts for treatment.

For this project, a sum of Rs1.4 billion will be set aside.

The provincial government will also provide portable ultrasound, medicine and diagnostic equipment along with 65 ambulances. Further, residential facilities or hostels for medical, paramedical and other non-medical staff will be constructed in existing health facilities. Further, as many as 42 health facilities in the newly-merged areas will either be set up or upgraded and a handsome amount will be allocated for it. To update and uplift the health sector, private investments will be attracted.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2019.