PESHAWAR: The authorities have outsourced management of eight health facilities through public-private partnership to ensure access of local communities in the far flung areas of the province to quality healthcare services.

The facilities included district headquarter hospital (DHQ) Wana in South Waziristan, DHQ Hospital Kohistan, Category-D Hospital Bazaar Zakhakhel in Khyber, Category-D Hospital Razmak in North Waziristan, Category-D Hospital Alizai in Kurram, Category-D Hospital Pasht in Bajaur, Category-D Hospital Mamond in Bajaur and Category-D Hospital Nawagai in Bajaur.

In this regard a contract signing ceremony was held here at Chief Minister’s House on Monday. Chief Minister Mahmood Khan was chief guest on the occasion.

Provincial Minister for Health Taimur Salim Jhagra, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, Health Secretary Mohammad Tahir Orakzai, Director General Health Services Dr Niaz Mohammad, the managing director of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Foundation and other high-ups were also present in the ceremony.

On the occasion, the government signed agreements with partner organisations for outsourcing of the management of eight secondary healthcare hospitals in addition to contract renewal of the management of two hospitals already outsourced including DHQ Hospital Mashti Mela in Orakzai and Category-D Hospital Shulam in South Waziristan.

Through public-private partnership, the government has already ensured all time availability of specialist doctors, nurses and paramedics in the healthcare units of far flung areas. The newly outsourced healthcare units would also be made operational round the clock and availability of all the facilities would be ensured there.

Talking on the occasion, the chief minister termed outsourcing of the hospitals as an another important step towards providing healthcare facilities to local people at their doorsteps. He said that the step would be helpful to improve healthcare services in the hospitals as per the aspirations and needs of people.

He said that the step would prove to be a milestone in improving service delivery of those healthcare units. He said that government was not only committed to providing quality healthcare services to people of far flung areas at their doorsteps but was also taking result-oriented steps under a well-devised plan for the purpose.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2022