Provincial Health Minister Khaleeq ur Rehman and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah while jointly chairing a meeting on Health Department reviewed progress on key health programmes, budget utilization, and measures aimed at further strengthening the province’s healthcare system.
During the meeting, officials highlighted that the Sehat Card Plus programme continues to be one of the most successful initiatives of the provincial health system, significantly improving access to healthcare services for low-income families across the province.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the programme, participants stressed the need to strengthen the Social Health Protection Initiative (SHPI) unit and establish stronger institutional arrangements for the effective delivery of Sehat Card services. The government is also introducing further reforms to enhance the programme’s effectiveness and outreach.
The meeting also reviewed budget releases for the health sector and decided that priority projects, particularly those included in the government’s good governance roadmap, would receive timely funding to ensure completion within stipulated deadlines.
To improve accountability and staff attendance in remote areas, the meeting was informed that a facial recognition attendance mechanism would be introduced in far-flung health facilities.
Officials further briefed the meeting that healthcare service delivery was being expanded through outsourcing, with 34 health facilities in Phase-III and 38 facilities in Phase-IV to be handed over for improved management and service quality.
To address shortages of medical staff, the government is in the process of recruiting around 2,500 healthcare workers for understaffed facilities. Medical Officers, Dental Surgeons, and Nurses are being hired on a contract basis for immediate deployment.
The Health Minister and Chief Secretary reiterated the government’s commitment to making healthcare services accessible, accountable, and sustainable for all citizens of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and directed the department to accelerate implementation and maintain strict monitoring of ongoing initiatives.