Rs7.8 billion approved for medical facilities

CM orders hiring of staff, increasing incentives to ensure availability of doctors

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government approved a package of Rs7.8 billion for repair of 14 district headquarters (DHQ) hospitals, procure healthcare equipment, recruit 1,083 nurses and establish additional job openings for medical officers in district hospitals and primary healthcare (PHC) facilities.

According to a handout, the decision was taken at a meeting to discuss the affairs of the health department at the CM Secretariat on Tuesday with Chief Minister Pervez Khattak chairing the conference.

The meeting also approved the creation of primary healthcare management committees (PCMC) and hospital management boards (HMB) for PHC facilities and DHQ hospitals. Special Assistant to CM on Housing Dr Amjad Khan, Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Dr Hamad Awais Agha, Chairman of CM Complaint and Redressal Cell Dilroz Khan and secretaries and officers from administration departments attended the meeting.

Khattak asked the finance department to work with the proposal submitted by the health department for grants for the special incentives which will cost an estimated Rs3.3 billion every year. He also directed the relevant department to provide medical institutions with the required funds to improve services, facilities, and renovations.

“The revised healthcare standards must be enforced to the letter,” said Khattak, adding the availability of doctors and other staff should be ensured for both morning and evening shifts.

Khattak announced that the provincial government was ready to grant a double or triple increase in salaries for doctors who are willing to serve in the remote districts of K-P.

A four-member committee was established under the chairmanship of the health secretary to review utilisation of the Post-Graduate Medical Institute in Peshawar. Khattak asked the committee to present their recommendations within four days.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2015.