Health priorities: 900 nurses, 600 paramedics to be hired at district hospitals

Special task force formed to monitor health care provision

PESHAWAR: At least 900 vacancies for nurses and 600 for paramedics have been announced in district headquarters hospitals across the province, stated a handout.

According to  the document, the announcement was made by Minister for Health Shahram Khan Tarakai.

“New medical officers and district specialists will also be hired,” the handout quoted Tarakai as saying. “Recruitment for the vacancies will begin soon to ensure facilities are provided round-the-clock.”

Special task force

A special task force has also been constituted to strengthen health care provision in DHQ hospitals, tehsil headquarters hospitals, rural health centres and basic health units.

“This special team is tasked with providing health care solutions to people at their doorsteps,” read the document. The task force has been assigned to collect data on staff performance, condition of medical equipment and other practices at DHQ hospitals.

These hospitals will receive funds to ensure electricity is supplied round the clock, medical equipment is repaired on an urgent basis, and all sorts of delays in providing medical treatment are minimised.

Oversight

“Monitoring committees will be formed under the supervision of the special task force,” read the statement. “These committees will function at divisional levels and members of these committees will visit DHQ hospitals in their respective divisions.” The committees will be expected to submit detailed reports to the task force.

“The special task force will meet every fortnight to resolve glitches that may come up in the reports submitted by the monitoring committees,” the handout added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2015.