CM Sohail Afridi Directs Fast-Track Establishment of New Hospitals and Revamping of DHQ Hospitals Across KP
Chitral Times Report
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi has directed the concerned authorities to expedite the establishment of new hospitals included in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and ensure the timely allocation of funds for ongoing health sector projects on a priority basis. He also directed the Health Department to submit, within one week, comprehensive details of the scope of work and estimated costs for the revamping of District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospitals.
He emphasised that resource constraints would not be allowed to impede the provision of quality and timely healthcare services to the public. He issued these directions while chairing a review meeting on priority projects of the Health Department, which examined progress on ongoing initiatives and plans for the establishment of new healthcare facilities across the province.
The Chief Minister said that providing accessible and improved healthcare services at people’s doorsteps was a fundamental responsibility of the government. He underscored the importance of upgrading public sector hospitals and Basic Health Units (BHUs), alongside advancing healthcare reforms and expanding access to modern medical facilities. Ensuring quality healthcare for people in remote and underserved areas, he added, remained a key government priority.
He directed that adequate funding for ongoing health sector projects be ensured in a timely manner, reiterating that financial constraints must not delay project implementation. He said practical measures were underway to address shortages of doctors, nurses and other healthcare personnel to improve service delivery across public hospitals.
The Chief Minister further stated that he was personally monitoring fund utilisation, construction quality, clinical standards and implementation timelines across health sector projects. He made 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,” the Chief Minister said.
He added that the government was committed to developing a healthcare system in which citizens would not have to travel long distances to access essential medical treatment and could receive quality services within their own communities. He reaffirmed that access to quality healthcare was a fundamental right of every citizen and that the government would take all necessary measures to ensure its delivery.
The meeting was briefed that revamping of 32 District Headquarters Hospitals across the province was underway under the Rs 33 billion Revamping of Secondary Care DHQ Hospitals Project, aimed at upgrading infrastructure and strengthening service delivery capacity. The project encompasses infrastructure rehabilitation, upgrading of medical equipment, outsourcing of selected services, supplementation of clinical services and other measures to improve hospital functionality and the quality of patient care. The meeting was informed that medical equipment worth Rs 2.5 billion had already been provided to the 32 DHQ Hospitals.
Infrastructure designs for 29 hospitals had been approved, and the relevant contractors had been mobilised to commence implementation. The Chief Minister directed the Health Department to submit comprehensive, hospital-wise details of the scope of work, estimated costs and implementation milestones within one week.
The information will facilitate a detailed assessment of project progress and support timely decisions on implementation priorities. The meeting was also briefed on progress towards establishing major healthcare facilities at key locations across the province. In Kohat, a summary for the acquisition of land required for a 1,000-bed medical complex had been moved forward. In Malakand, land for a 1,000-bed hospital had been identified, and the land acquisition process was underway.
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, while the PC-II document had also been prepared and submitted to the Planning Department for approval.
The Chief Minister directed the relevant authorities to maintain implementation momentum, ensure timely processing of administrative and financial requirements, and prioritise the development of healthcare infrastructure to improve access to quality medical services throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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