DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has directed the relevant authorities to accelerate the pace of ongoing health sector reforms in view of the growing patient burden on major hospitals and the difficulties faced by the public.
Emphasizing the need for long-term planning, he instructed officials to present comprehensive and sustainable proposals to improve the health sector while keeping future needs in mind.
The Chief Minister issued these directives while chairing an important meeting on health sector reforms at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Peshawar, an official statement said.
He stressed that instead of adopting a firefighting approach, a comprehensive and long-term strategy with far-reaching outcomes must be implemented to ensure improved public health.
Directing officials to speed up the revamping of primary and secondary healthcare facilities, the Chief Minister said that strengthening healthcare services at the grassroots level was essential to reduce pressure on major hospitals.
He also ordered strict measures to discourage unnecessary referrals, noting that such practices not only inconvenience patients but also increase the burden on tertiary care hospitals. He directed that solid justification must be provided for unavoidable referrals, while unnecessary referrals should not be allowed under any circumstances.
Muhammad Sohail Afridi further instructed the authorities to submit workable proposals for increasing the number of beds in Medical Teaching Institutions (MTIs) and Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
He emphasized special focus on pediatric services and directed that adequate budget allocation be ensured under the Sehat Card for the treatment of children.
The Chief Minister also ordered the early finalization of rules and regulations regarding burden sharing with private hospitals included in the Sehat Card program.
To ensure timely availability of doctors, he directed that hostels be arranged for medical staff near hospitals. He further instructed hospitals to upgrade their systems and ensure that diagnostic test results are not delayed due to technical or connectivity issues.
Highlighting the importance of social sectors, Sohail Afridi said that health and education directly impact the public and therefore require special attention.
CM Afridi reiterated that the health of the people is the government’s top priority and assured that lack of resources would not be allowed to hinder improvements in the healthcare system.
