KP Plans Free Medicines and Better Hospital Services in 12 Districts

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's health department has unveiled plans to enhance healthcare services in 12 selected districts. Under this initiative, closer supervision of outsourced hospitals will be implemented to guarantee free diagnostic and medical treatments for residents. Dr. Fazal Rahman, who leads the vector diseases and malaria control program, has been proposed as the new director of health for eight tribal districts and the areas of Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, and Tank. However, official appointment letters have not been issued yet.

Participating in this public-private partnership, 15 out of the 19 health facilities previously outsourced in merged districts will continue functioning based on their performance. Additionally, 28 more hospitals are being outsourced, making a total of 43 hospitals covered by these arrangements. Private organizations manage government-owned hospitals through the Health Foundation, aiming to improve patient care.

Dr. Fazal has identified outpatient and emergency departments, hospital wards, diagnostic services, and free medicines as the immediate priorities. Maternal and child healthcare, including gynecological services, will also be given special focus. Unreliable electricity, especially in merged districts, is considered a significant challenge. To tackle this issue, the department plans to solarize hospitals to ensure the continuous operation of operating theatres, laboratories, and other essential services.

The health directorate has submitted proposals for both short-term (three-month and six-month) and long-term (six-year) improvements. With the promised funding, medical supplies and specialized care will be ensured, minimizing patients' need to travel to other cities. Furthermore, local communities will be actively involved in the efforts to enhance hospital services.