Medical facilities in FATA: Senate committee wants comprehensive health strategy

Committee directed Fata authorities to provide health and education facilities to tribal people without discrimination

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions on Tuesday directed concerned officials to formulate a comprehensive strategy to ensure health facilities in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) in consultation with locals.

The Director Services Health Fata informed the committee that 41 medical mobile buses were donated by different United Nations agencies and various countries as part of efforts to provide basic health facilities to the area’s residents.

Japan, Oman, Unicef, UNHCR and World Health Organisation were among the donors and friends of Pakistan that provided medical mobile buses, he informed.

The committee directed Fata authorities to provide health and education facilities to the tribal people without discrimination and ensure that the funds, coming from the international community, were utilised in a transparent manner.

Senator Saleh Shah, chairman of the company, said a reasonable salary package should be offered to doctors and paramedical staff deputed in the tribal areas.

He further directed authorities to fully implement the parliamentarians’ suggestions to construct a medical college for the students of Fata.

Senator Hilalur Rehman said Fata authorities should take strict action against elements involved in corruption. The Minister for States and Frontier Regions and other officials were present in the meeting. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2013.