Gandapur orders stricter checks on health system

CM reviews IMU report, absentee doctors fined, officials removed, medicine supply improves

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, has directed the provincial Health Department to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and ensure uninterrupted healthcare delivery across the province. He issued these instructions while chairing an important meeting to review the six-month performance of the department's Independent Monitoring Unit (IMU).

The meeting was attended by Advisor on Health, Ehtesham Ali, the Secretary Health, and senior departmental officials.

The forum was briefed on the implementation of earlier decisions and the overall performance of the IMU. Officials informed the chief minister that during the last six months, IMU staff carried out 17,743 visits to healthcare facilities across K-P, including 14,939 visits to primary health centers and 2,831 to secondary health centers.

The performance report showed a marked improvement in staff presence at health facilities. The availability rate of medical officers in primary health centers increased from 61 per cent to 73 per cent, while absenteeism dropped from 12 per cent to eight per cent. To enforce discipline, Rs10.5 million was deducted from the salaries of absentee doctors. Out of 1,766 absent doctors, explanations were sought from 1,096, disciplinary proceedings were launched against 12, inquiries were initiated against 36, and 244 were issued warnings.

Similarly, in secondary health centers, the presence of medical officers improved from 83 per cent to 86 per cent. The IMU recovered Rs6.8 million from absent medical officers over six months. Out of 1,487 absentees in district headquarters hospitals, explanations were sought from 719 doctors, inquiries were initiated against 18, proceedings against 12, and 264 received warnings, while 522 faced other disciplinary measures.

In addition, nine Medical Superintendents and seven District Health Officers (DHOs) were removed from their positions due to unsatisfactory performance.

The report also highlighted progress in the availability of medicines and medical equipment. Essential medicine stock levels at primary health centers rose from 47 per cent to 55 per cent, while in secondary centers the figure increased slightly from 47 per cent to 48 per cent. Availability of essential equipment improved from 93 per cent to 95 per cent in primary health centers, and from 78 per cent to 80 per cent for 60 key items in secondary centers.