Funding crisis threatens 19 K-P hospitals

There is growing concern over the possible closure of 19 outsourced hospitals in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's merged districts due to a suspension of funding.

According to sources, the provincial health department was obligated to pay Rs1 billion to these hospitals. However, no funds have been disbursed over the past six months, and employees have not received their salaries during this period.

Sources further revealed that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Foundation had outsourced these 19 hospitals under a public-private partnership model, spanning 10 districts of the province.

As per official records, eight hospitals were outsourced in 2020 for a three-year period, while an additional 11 were outsourced in 2022 for five years.

When contacted, Managing Director of the K-P Health Foundation, Adnan Taj, stated that all pending payments will be cleared before July 15, following formal approval from the provincial cabinet.

In March, Chief Secretary, Shahab Ali Shah, chaired a meeting of the Health Foundation to assess the outsourcing of hospitals in remote areas, aimed at improving healthcare services for underserved communities.

The meeting reviewed the progress of outsourced hospitals, with 19 healthcare facilities outsourced in two phases to enhance medical services.

The outsourced hospitals include Sari Mola Khan, Mamad Gat, Ghiljo, Dogar, Toi Khala, Darazinda, RHC Mastuj, RHC Garam Chashma, DHQ Wana, Cat-D Bazar Zaka Khel, Cat-D Pashat, Cat-D Nawagai, Cat-D Mamund, Cat-D Alizai, Cat-D Razmak, THQ Mir Ali, DHQ Dassu, Mishti Mela, and Sholam.

The meeting also reviewed the cost-per-patient indicator and discussed challenges faced by some hospitals.

Chief Secretary stressed the need for prompt resolution of issues in outsourced hospitals to ensure efficient public healthcare delivery.

He directed that service providers be regularly assessed to identify areas for improvement. He reiterated that healthcare remains a priority sector for the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, which is committed to enhancing medical services in remote areas through the Public-Private Partnership model.

In January 2024, health department embarked on a significant initiative, deciding to outsource eight additional public sector hospitals in the remote regions of the province through public-private partnerships.

This move was aimed at improving healthcare access and services in far-flung areas.

Official sources told The Express Tribune that the caretaker provincial cabinet has given its approval for the outsourcing plan, paving the way for agreements to be signed with new companies. The selected hospitals, categorized as Category D, are situated in former FR DI Khan (Darazinda) and various parts of Chitral.

Notably, seven of these hospitals are located in different mountainous regions of Chitral, including Dogar Hospital, Kheli Jo Hospital, Toi Khel Hospital, Darzara Hospital, Mashtuj, and Garam Chisma Hospital.