Sindh govt takes back control of health facilities from IHS

Seven taluka hospitals, 104 rural health centres were running under PPP-mode

HYDERABAD:

The Sindh health department is taking back the administrative control of seven taluka headquarters hospitals and 104 rural health centers (RHCs) from the Integrated Health Services (IHS), a healthcare group.

Sindh Health Services Director-General Dr Irshad Memon has directed the district health officers of 20 districts of Sindh through a letter to complete the taking over of the health facilities by August 4.

The Sindh health department signed an agreement with the IHS in March, 2015, under the Public Private Partnership Act 2010, under which these facilities were contracted to the IHS. During the first phase of the project, the government handed over the management control of 21 RHCs in Larkana Division to the IHS in November, 2016.

Some 14 facilities in Naushehro Feroze, 11 each in Badin and Khairpur, 10 in Benazirabad, eight in Larkana, six each in Sanghar and Umerkot, five in Mirpurkhas, four each in Jamshoro, Kambar and Kashmore, three each in Dadu, Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Jacobabad and Sukkur and two in Tando Muhammad Khan and and as many in Tharparkar districts were given to the IHS.

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These include THQ Dokri, THQ Ratodero and THQ Arija in Larkana district, THQ Moro and THQ Kandiaro in Naushehro Feroze district, THQ Sakrand in Benazirabad district and THQ Bulri Shah Karim in Tando Muhammad Khan district.

“You are further directed to initiate and ensure the smooth process of takeover of respective health facilities of your district under intimation to the office of the undersigned,” the DG health wrote to the DHOs.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2021.