Strengthening Of Health Services In KP To Remain Cornerstone Of PTI Govt

The PTI Government will take a lead role to strengthen health services in Khyber Pakthunkhwa in 2018-23 period with special focus on development of districts headquarters hospitals and human resource development, construction of basic health units and bolstering of vaccination programs aimed at providing quality health services to all in line with the policy of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Oct, 2018 ) :The PTI Government will take a lead role to strengthen health services in Khyber Pakthunkhwa in 2018-23 period with special focus on development of districts headquarters hospitals and human resource development, construction of basic health units and bolstering of vaccination programs aimed at providing quality health services to all in line with the policy of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Extension of Sehat Insaf Cards (SICs) to tribal districts of erstwhile Fata, strengthening of Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH), Lady Health Workers (LHW), Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI) and others nutrition programs besides standardization and mainstreaming of DHQs& THQs hospitals and setting up of a network of BHUs during fiscal year 2018-19 with allocation of Rs11.90 billion for health sector's uplift will remain a cornerstone of the Govt.

The scope of SICs would be expanded to tribal districts with financial assistance of Federal Government and additional 800,000 deserving families including disabled, widows and veterans would be included in this social safety program.

Under 100 days plan, a mega project for improvement of health service delivery in over 800 BHUs is in the offing especially designed to utilize services of an increased strength of doctors, paramedics and improved health facilities.

Trauma Centre in DHQ hospital in Lakki Marwat, Cardiac Cauterization of laboratory at three divisional headquarters hospitals, Burn Centres (12-15 bedded) at three divisional headquarters hospitals, Paeds hospital in Swat, rehabilitation and construction of 200BHUs would be established besides purchase of incinerators for deficient health facilities in the province.

To achieve these objectives, the KP Govt allocated Rs78.65billion for health sector in fiscal year 2018-19 budget against Rs69 billion last year, registering an increase of 21pc.

The budget of health sector for FY 2018-19 remained about 13pc of total KP budget as over two percent of total GDP of the province are being spent on health sector better than other provinces. A total of Rs65 billion were spent out of Rs69b development budget of last fiscal year in the province.

Dr Hasham Inamullah Khan, Provincial Minister for Health told APP that strengthening of Primary and secondary healthcare services was the top most priority of PTI Govt. Under 100 days plan, he said a new health policy is being evolved wherein experts from 27 national and international organizations were engaged, saying this inclusive policy would be followed for next five years.

"We had given clear instructions to DHOs to improve performance and provide better services to people," he said and added DHOs and Medical Superintendent were directed to submit reports containing data of much needed equipments, shortage of diagnostic machines, technical staff and other facilities within three weeks so that it could be provided at earliest and after it there should be no excuse whatsoever in dispensation of health services.

A human resource cell is being established at Health Department wherein the province wise available data, expertise and its multiple implementations would be available which would help overcome the human resource shortfall in the department. The Minister said Federal Govt would financially assist in extension of SICs to tribal districts of former Fata.

Director General, Health Services KP, Dr Muhammad Ayub Rose told APP that work on 100-days plan was swiftly underway under which a new health policy for 2018-23 would be completed by November 15.

A 37-member Advisory Council (AC) with 13 members local including Provincial Minister for Health and 14 members from international relevant donors' agencies was constituted for preparation of new health policy, he said.

Special focus would be made on prevention of chronic diseases, strengthening of primary and secondary healthcare system, districts hospitals and SICs to all deserving poor people including tribesmen, adding over 4,000,000 deserving tribesmen would be facilitated with Sehat Insaf Cards.

At present, he said, around 69pc deserving population of KP are being provided free treatment under SICs and with inclusion of tribal districts this coverage will jump to over 80 in next five years.

"The construction of health infrastructure in all seven tribal districts was a big challenge after Fata's merger in KP and huge funds would be required for construction of hospitals, basic health units and rural health centres there." KP Govt had increased budget of health sector from Rs30.3billion in 2012-13 to record Rs78.65billion in 2018-19 besides increased number of beds in Govt hospitals from 12114 in 2012-13 to 18185 in 2016-17.

Dr. Ayub said PTI Govt had addressed issue of shortage of doctors and strength of doctors, which was only 4000 in 2013 had been increased to record 9000 in 2018, making positive impact in health delivery system besides restored confidence of masses.

The strength of EPI vaccinators which was only 1350 few years ago were increased to 3300 today and resultantly, polio cases were significantly decreased owing to regular holdings of immunizations in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.

The DG said an Integrated Health Services (HIS) project was launched for strengthening of MNCH besides others key vaccinations programs, adding the project has integrated Lady Health Workers, EPI, MNCH and others nutrition programs and took a client oriented strategy for health services to all.

For the first time, a procurement cell is created in health department to monitor and ensure transparency in utilization of procurement funds, adding Rs3billion were spent on purchase of different equipments for Govt hospitals.

Dr Ayub Rose said despite challenges, the journey towards provision of better health services will continue and efforts are underway to provide quality medical care to all.