Health crisis: K-P govt forms committee to negotiate with doctors

Grand Health Alliance ends 47-day protest against Regional and District Health Authorities Act 2019

PESHAWAR: The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday constituted a four-member committee to negotiate with the Grand Health Alliance protesting against the Regional and District Health Authorities Act (RDHA) 2019.

The 47-day long protest came to an end following negotiations with K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan. “The chief minister has assured us that our demands will be fulfilled,” GHA chairman Alamgir Yousafzai told The Express Tribune.

The committee will be led by K-P Law Minister Sultan Muhammad Khan and comprise Minister for Food Qalandar Lodhi, Minister for Communication & Works Akbar Ayub Khan and Secretary Health Department Yahyah Akhundzada.

The committee is also expected to dwell on the Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms(Amendment) Act,2018.

K-P Assembly passes health authority bill

Explaining the legislature


RDHA Act 2019 

Passed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, the Act empowers the government to establish health authorities at regional and district levels. The authorities will be funded by the federal and provincial governments and report to a policy board chaired by the provincial health minister.

The legislature stated that the serving doctors will continue to be regarded as civil servants and be entitled to pension and other benefits. The authority to transfer doctors as per need in healthcare in respective districts of domicile will remain with the regional health authority.

The existing cadre will be treated 'dying cadre' and continue until the retirement of the last civil servant, following which the posts will be abolished. At this point, the regional authorities will be empowered to create new positions and hire as per regulations.