Key Takeaways
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has directed authorities to expedite hospital projects.
- The chief minister stressed the need for timely funding and submission of hospital-wise details.
- Work is underway to revamp 32 district headquarters hospitals and establish new healthcare facilities.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has ordered authorities to expedite the establishment of new hospitals and ensure timely funding for ongoing health sector projects. The directive came during a review meeting on priority projects of the Health Department.
Afridi emphasized the importance of providing accessible and improved healthcare at people’s doorsteps, stressing that financial constraints must not hinder the provision of quality healthcare.
He directed the Health Department to submit hospital-wise details of the scope of work and estimated costs for revamping district headquarters hospitals within one week, highlighting the need to avoid delays in ongoing projects.
The meeting reviewed progress on ongoing initiatives and plans to establish new healthcare facilities across the province. Afridi said that adequate funds must be released on time to avoid delays, and that practical steps are being taken to address shortages of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff.
The chief minister stated that he is personally monitoring fund utilisation, construction quality, clinical standards, and project timelines, warning that negligence in implementation will not be tolerated.
Work is underway to revamp 32 district headquarters hospitals across the province under the Rs33 billion Revamping of Secondary Care DHQ Hospitals Project. The project includes infrastructure rehabilitation, provision of modern medical equipment, outsourcing of selected services, and expansion of clinical services to improve hospital functionality and patient care.
Medical equipment worth Rs 2.5 billion has already been provided to the 32 hospitals, and infrastructure designs for 29 hospitals have been approved. Contractors have been mobilised for implementation.
Plans are also in place to establish major healthcare facilities at several locations across the province. In Kohat, the land acquisition summary for a proposed 1,000-bed medical complex has been moved forward. In Malakand, land has been identified for a 1,000-bed hospital, and the acquisition process is under way.
For the proposed general hospital at Benazir Ground in Peshawar, the PC-II document has been prepared and submitted to the Planning Department for approval. Similarly, Section 4 has been invoked for land acquisition for the proposed Women and Children Hospital in Bara, with its PC-II document also prepared and submitted for approval.
