PESHAWAR, Oct 9: The health department has started mother and child health services in 35 different basic health units (BHUs) and mobile health units in eight districts under the special initiatives of the provincial government in health sector.

The eight districts where the services have started include Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Swat, Charsadda, Mansehra and Haripur.

Similarly, PC-1s for special health protection programme, TB control programme, extended programme on immunisation and dengue outbreak management with estimated costs of Rs1,156 million, Rs946 million, Rs53 million and Rs59 million respectively have also been approved.

In addition, funds to the tune of Rs25 million have been released for the establishment of Insulin Bank.

Briefing Chief Minister Pervez Khattak here on Wednesday about reforms in health sector, Health Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam said that contracts of 240 doctors were extended to overcome deficiency of doctors and nurses in different healthcare outlets in the province.

“A case to appoint 300 doctors on contract basis has been finalised and 46 new posts of medical officers at BHU level have been sanctioned,” he said. Dr Alam said that 257 nurses were appointed through public service commission and 349 contracts appointments of nurses were finalised.

The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to expedite the recruitment of doctors and paramedical staff in hospitals. He directed them to ensure availability of all the required medical equipment and medicines in district level hospitals so that healthcare facilities could be provided to people at their doorsteps.

Mr Khattak said that there would be no compromise on reforms in health and education sectors as it was the top priority of government to provide maximum relief to the people in both the sectors. He asked the authorities concerned to revitalise and strengthen the drug inspection bodies and to check spurious drugs in the market and take actions against the unqualified doctors and quacks.

Besides the provincial chief secretary, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf general secretary Jahangir Tareen also attended the briefing.

The health secretary said that revised drafts of Medical and Healthcare and Institution Act and Health Regularity Authority Act were prepared to refresh medical laws and strengthen medical institutions.

He said that Drug and Food Safety Authority Act was sent to cabinet for approval while revision of Health Foundation Act was in process.

Similarly, management of Health Regularity Authority was revamped and work on the constitutions of district health coordination boards was in process, the official said.

Dr Alam said that social health protection programme was being launched initially in four districts including Chitral, Kohat, Mardan and Malakand in collaboration with a German organisation. “A contract to this effect will be singed with the German organisation next week,” he added.