K-P to ‘prioritise health sector in budget’

K-P CM says major chunk of uplift funds to be allocated for strengthening health services

PESHAWAR:

Strengthening health services delivery system in the province would be a top priority sector in 2020-21 provincial budget.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan made these remarks while presiding over a meeting held to review the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the next financial year.

CM Mahmood said that significant funds will be allocated for the uplift of health sector in the province in the upcoming financial budget to enable it effectively deal with the Covid-19 and any other emergency situation.

Recruitment of doctors, nurses, paramedics and other health professionals, provision of medical equipment and emergency medicines to all categories of hospitals would be given special attention, he informed.

The chief minister was briefed about the proposed uplift schemes of health sector to be included in the next ADP. The meeting also reviewed progress on current developmental schemes under the current ADP.

The meeting was informed that a comprehensive programme for improving service delivery in all public sector hospitals had been proposed for the new ADP whereas a scheme for upgrading all nine nursing schools of the province to nursing colleges would also be reflected in the new ADP in order to revamp the nursing sector as per the requirements of the modern age.

"Additional funds will be allocated to extend the coverage of Sihat Insaf Card Scheme to the 100 per cent population of the province," the meeting was informed.

Routine immunisation, improving hospitals, provision of emergency medicines and medical equipment, hiring of essential health staff for hospitals and special initiatives to effectively deal with coronavirus pandemic would be part of the health sector under the ADP.

Regarding the proposed schemes for the merged areas, the meeting was told that under the Accelerated Implementation Plan (AIP) projects for upgradaing all districts and tehsil headquarters hospitals of merged district, hiring of the required health staff and provision of latest medical equipment for these hospitals would be completed during the next financial year.

Opposition should avoid playing politics in pandemic situation

The provincial government advised the opposition to avoid playing politics during the pandemic situation and termed the all parties conference by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) an attempt to political point scoring.

Adviser to K-P chief minister on Information and Public Relations Ajmal Wazir while briefing media said that the current situation demanded unity among the political parties. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2020.