Cabinet approves K-P health policy 2026

Aims to ensure quality healthcare for every citizen

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet has approved the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Policy 2026 and other key measures to strengthen healthcare and improve motor vehicle registration.

Addressing the meeting Chief Minister emphasized that Imran Khan has always promoted freedom of expression and wanted journalists to criticize openly wherever they deemed it necessary.

"Criticism is made on me and the government as well. Various journalists keep criticizing the government and some black channels also continue misleading propaganda against the government. However, the K-P government has never taken any illegal action against anyone," Afridi said.

He added that even if someone spreads false propaganda, the government takes legal action only through the courts. While incidents of enforced disappearances, violence, and harassment of opposition journalists occur in other provinces, such tactics are not adopted in K-P.

Afridi highlighted that the current provincial Assembly is the only assembly in Pakistan born out of a genuine public mandate. Therefore, public opinion and public interest will be given priority in every decision.

Briefing the media on the cabinet decisions, Information and Public Relations Minister Shafi Jan announced that the provincial cabinet has approved the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Policy 2026, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Occupational Safety and Health Rules 2026, and amendments to the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965 and Provincial Motor Vehicles Rules 1969 to make the personal registration number system more efficient and effective.

The new Health Policy aims to transform K-P into a healthy province where every citizen, without discrimination, has access to quality healthcare facilities. This will improve public health, create a healthier society, and promote collective prosperity.

He said that key feature of the policy included better medical services, sustainable financial resources, modern technology, digital systems, trained medical staff, evidence-based decisions, and effective partnerships.

Special focus on transparency, accountability, and effective monitoring in the health sector including strengthening of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Care Commission. Introduction of effective performance evaluation, digital reporting, and monitoring systems.