K-P reactivates dengue action plan

Azam directs health dept to take steps to contain leishmaniasis

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Caretaker Chief Minister, Muhammad Azam Khan, has directed the health department to strictly implement the proposed dengue action plan to prevent a possible outbreak of the dengue virus during the current season.

He emphasized that all relevant departments and entities must fulfill their responsibilities effectively.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister urged authorities to take concrete measures to contain leishmaniasis and other infectious diseases. He also emphasized the need to improve service delivery in the health sector in the newly merged areas, ensuring healthcare facilities are available to local residents.

During a meeting of the health department held on Wednesday, the Chief Minister was briefed in detail about institutional reforms, administrative affairs, development projects, available funds, and other related matters. Attendees included the Advisor to Chief Minister for Health,

Dr. Abid Jameel, Chief Secretary Imdadullah Bosal, Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan, administrative secretaries of health, and other relevant departments.

The caretaker Chief Minister stated that health is a priority sector for his government and directed the finance department to ensure the timely provision of required funds for the purchase of emergency medicines and other essential procurements in hospitals. He also emphasized timely completion of health sector projects and providing funds on a priority basis.

The Chief Minister further directed the concerned authorities to complete the ongoing inquiry regarding payments to hospitals working under public-private partnerships, ensuring that the process does not affect service delivery or inconvenience patients.

The meeting also discussed matters related to the Sehat Card program and Medical Teaching Institutions (MTIs). It was decided that a separate meeting would be convened to streamline matters further. The Chief Minister called the Sehat Card program a good initiative for public welfare and emphasized making the entire process transparent and more effective so that maximum benefits of this program could reach the people.

Azam Khan made it clear that all the decisions would be taken to this effect purely on merit and in the best public interest, adding that there is no room for any political consideration in this regard. He remarked that the caretaker government is totally impartial.