K-P pushes payments for outsourced hospitals

Panel urges better pay for specialists to improve healthcare in remote areas.

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PESHAWAR:

The Supervisory Committee of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has directed the timely payment of outstanding dues to implementing partners (IPs) managing outsourced hospitals for the current quarter.

It has also recommended offering attractive salaries and benefits to specialist doctors working in remote areas to provide better healthcare locally and reduce the burden on large hospitals in Peshawar.

A meeting of the Supervisory Committee on outsourced hospitals, chaired by Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Ihtesham Ali, was held on Thursday.

Members present included Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Arshad Ayub, Minister for Agriculture Major (retd) Sajjad Barakwal, and other officials, including Special Secretary Budget and Development Habibullah, Director General Health Dr. Muhammad Saleem, and Managing Director Health Foundation Dr. Adnan Taj, alongside representatives from the finance, law, and parliamentary affairs departments.

The committee reviewed the current status of outsourced hospitals, their outstanding payments, and related agreements.

It was informed that 19 hospitals, including those in tribal districts, are currently outsourced. Concern was raised about patients being referred to Peshawar hospitals despite the presence of specialists in these outsourced facilities.

The minister for agriculture emphasized the importance of providing better salaries and benefits to healthcare workers in remote areas to address this issue.

The committee stressed the need to complete the Health Foundation's Board of Directors and directed the activation of the Search and Nomination Committee, setting a January 15 deadline for board completion.

It also called for engagement with hospital-operating organizations to ensure uninterrupted healthcare delivery.

A detailed briefing on establishing a one-window operation for outsourced hospitals is expected in the next meeting, scheduled for January 15, 2024.

Earlier this year, the health department took a significant step by deciding to outsource eight additional public sector hospitals in remote areas through public-private partnerships.

Approved by the caretaker provincial cabinet, this initiative aims to improve healthcare access and services in underserved regions.

These hospitals, categorized as Category D, are located in former FR DI Khan (Darazinda) and various parts of Chitral, including Dogar, Kheli Jo, Toi Khel, Darzara, Mashtuj, and Garam Chashma hospitals. Seven of these hospitals are in Chitral's mountainous areas.