Allocating resources: Provincial govt announces Rs1 billion increase in health budget

The minister added all government institutions should streamline operations in accordance with the mission of PTI.

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Information Shaukat Ali Yousafzai on Friday announced an increase of Rs1 billion in the provincial health budget, raising the amount to Rs8 billion.

Speaking to journalists in Peshawar, Yousafzai, who also heads the health ministry, said three tertiary hospitals in the city – Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) and Hatayabad Medical Centre (HMC) – are overburdened by patients coming in from the entire province. However, with the new budget there would be no shortage of funds or resources for them, he claimed.

The minister added all government institutions should streamline operations in accordance with the mission of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. “Government functionaries should be a part of the change for a better future of the province,” said Yousafzai.



He said his government was working to streamline institutions so as to remove the problems faced by public sector employees, in order to enable them to use their energies efficiently for the benefit of the people.

Earlier, during a visit to the health department, Yousafzai said the healthcare system for the underprivileged should be improved, adding there would be no political interference in the system. “We want early, rapid and immediate relief for the people and we have a clear vision to find solutions.”

Yousafzai said the K-P government has released Rs320 million in salaries for Lady Health Workers (LHWs) of the health department for the month of April, May and June.

These LHWs had been serving various healthcare institutions of the province under a programme funded by the federal government. However, with the passage of the 18th Amendment, the federal government discontinued their salaries.

The minister concluded his government was in contact with donors who were willing to provide aid in various sectors. “Our efforts will bear fruit and results will be visible within three months.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2013.