Doctors mobilised for election health crisis

K-P health dept draws up contingency plan

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa health department has finalised health contingency plan to deal with any emergency situation during the upcoming elections.

Under the plan it has been decided to establish a control room comprising of doctors and paramedics in order to respond to any emergency in a timely manner. A staff of 10 doctors would be on duty in the control room on February 8, while five doctors would perform duties in the control room on February 9.

Emergency would be declared in all the public sector hospitals in all districts during the days of general elections. All the district health officers in the districts have been directed to coordinate with the concerned administration. Under the plan the health department would also coordinate with Rescue 1122 to deal with any emergency situation.

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“The Directorate General of Health Services KP has decided to establish an Emergency Control Room at the Directorate General of Health Services in accordance with the contingency plan issued for the upcoming general elections,” says a notification from the office of Director General Health Services, Dr Shaukat Ali.

As per the plan, doctors and relevant staff have been assigned duties for the operation of the Emergency Control Room to handle emergency situations during the election period. Emergency contact numbers will be established to manage crisis situations effectively. Additionally, all District Health Officers (DHOs) have been instructed to conduct risk assessments and set up control rooms during the elections.

Dr Shaukat Ali emphasized that all DHOs and Medical Superintendents will ensure the provision of necessary medicines and facilities to manage emergencies effectively. The plan will also involve establishing communication channels to provide authenticated information to the public during the elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2024.