New policy announced for transgender healthcare

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has introduced a new province-wide policy to ensure mandatory healthcare facilities for transgender and intersex persons, including separate hospital wards, washrooms and privacy protections during treatment.

The initiative, titled the "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Protection and Welfare Policy for Transgender and Intersex Persons 2025," aims to make all government hospitals more inclusive and respectful of gender-diverse individuals, addressing long-standing gaps in the province's healthcare system.

According to official sources, the new policy has been circulated to all public hospitals, district health officers, and heads of medical programmes across the province, directing them to ensure full implementation.

Under the new framework, separate toilets and wards will be designated for transgender and intersex patients in all hospitals, while medical staff and administrators have been instructed to treat them with dignity, respect, and confidentiality.

The policy mandates that hospital in-charges are responsible for protecting patients' privacy and identity, ensuring that no discrimination occurs during treatment or admission.

According to sources, similar commitments were announced in previous governments but were never implemented.