KP CM orders faster establishment of hospitals

Peshawar  –  Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi has directed the relevant authorities to expedite the establishment of new hospitals under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and ensure timely funding for ongoing health sector projects.

He also directed the Health Department to submit comprehensive, hospital-wise details of the scope of work and estimated costs for revamping district headquarters (DHQ) hospitals within one week, stressing that financial constraints must not hinder the provision of quality healthcare.

He issued these directions while chairing a review meeting on priority projects of the Health Department, which examined progress on ongoing initiatives and plans to establish new healthcare facilities across the province.

The chief minister said providing accessible and improved healthcare at people’s doorsteps was a fundamental responsibility of the government. He stressed the need to upgrade public sector hospitals and basic health units (BHUs), advance healthcare reforms and expand access to modern medical facilities, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

He reiterated that adequate funds must be released in a timely manner to prevent delays in ongoing projects. He added that practical measures were being taken to address shortages of doctors, nurses and other healthcare personnel and improve service delivery in public hospitals.

Afridi said he was personally monitoring fund utilisation, construction quality, clinical standards and implementation timelines across health sector projects, making it clear that negligence in project execution would not be tolerated.

“Investment in the health sector is an investment in the brighter future of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said, adding that the government was committed to developing a healthcare system that would enable citizens to access essential medical treatment close to home without having to travel long distances. He reaffirmed that access to quality healthcare was a fundamental right of every citizen and said the government would take all necessary measures to ensure its provision.

The meeting was informed that work was under way to revamp 32 DHQ hospitals across the province under the Rs33 billion Revamping of Secondary Care DHQ Hospitals Project. The initiative aims to upgrade infrastructure and strengthen hospitals’ capacity to deliver healthcare services.

The project includes infrastructure rehabilitation, the provision of modern medical equipment, outsourcing of selected services and the expansion of clinical services, among other measures to improve hospital functionality and patient care.

Participants were informed that medical equipment worth Rs2.5 billion had already been provided to the 32 hospitals. Infrastructure designs for 29 hospitals had been approved, and the relevant contractors had been mobilised to begin implementation.

The chief minister directed the Health Department to submit hospital-wise details of the scope of work, estimated costs and implementation milestones within one week to facilitate a detailed assessment of progress and help determine implementation priorities.

The meeting was also briefed on plans to establish major healthcare facilities at various locations across the province.

In Kohat, a summary for the acquisition of land for a proposed 1,000-bed medical complex had been moved forward. In Malakand, land had been identified for a 1,000-bed hospital, and the acquisition process was under way.

For the proposed general hospital at Benazir Ground in Peshawar, the PC-II document had been prepared and submitted to the Planning Department for approval.

Similarly, Section 4 had been invoked to facilitate land acquisition for the proposed Women and Children Hospital in Bara. Its PC-II document had also been prepared and submitted to the Planning Department for approval.

Afridi directed the relevant authorities to maintain the pace of implementation, ensure timely processing of administrative and financial requirements, and prioritise healthcare infrastructure development to improve access to quality medical services across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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