CM Afridi directs authorities to fill all nursing vacancies across province
DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has declared a province-wide “Nursing Emergency” to tackle the growing shortage of trained nurses, directing the immediate filling of all vacant posts through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA).
The decision was announced during a high-level review meeting of the Health Department, where the Chief Minister also instructed officials to issue a fresh communication to the Nursing Council for the clearance of 650 pending trained nursing slots, a handout said.
The meeting focused on staffing gaps, service delivery constraints, and the progress of ongoing health sector reforms. Chief Minister Afridi emphasized the urgent need for rapid action, stronger oversight, and bold administrative measures to address immediate challenges, enhance service delivery, and ensure that healthcare reforms benefit the public across the province.
Highlighting the critical importance of adequate staffing at health facilities, he ordered the early completion of the recruitment process for doctors and specialists, stressing that merit and transparency must be upheld at all costs.
The Chief Minister also directed the Health Department to take strong and proactive measures to curb polio, dengue, and malaria, underlining strict implementation of the Dengue Action Plan.
He instructed that procurement of medicines and medical equipment must commence from January 1, warning that no delays would be tolerated in this vital process.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to institutional strengthening, he called for pragmatic steps to enhance the capacity of the Healthcare Commission.
Recognizing the growing pressure on tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, he directed the department to examine proposals for establishing new multi-bed hospitals in Peshawar, Kohat, and Malakand, and to present actionable plans.
At the Khyber Institute of Child Health, the Chief Minister ordered the acceleration of work to ensure early completion and operationalization, with notices to be issued to those responsible for delays and weekly progress reports to be submitted. He stressed that the health sector remains a top government priority and assured that financial constraints would not hinder improvements.
During the briefing, officials informed the Chief Minister that 182 projects are included in the current Annual Development Programme, with 76 nearing completion.
Nine flagship initiatives are underway, including the establishment of a Burn Centre in Dera Ismail Khan, new cath labs based on hospital needs, the Kohat Institute of Medical Sciences, reconstruction of Liaquat Memorial Teaching Hospital Kohat, and the standardization of DHQ Hospital Mardan.
Significant progress was also reported on 51 high-priority projects, such as revamping health facilities, establishing a Paraplegic Centre in the merged areas, upgrading the Accident and Emergency Unit and ICU at Hayatabad Medical Complex, opening a Nursing College in Upper Chitral, rehabilitating health centers across the province, and strengthening the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).
