ABBOTTABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali has accused the last PTI government of destroying healthcare system in the province.

“The so-called medical teaching institutions reforms directly supervised by former prime minister Imran Khan’s cousin Nausherwan Barki badly damaged this province’s health system,” Mr Ali told a ceremony held at the Women and Children Hospital here on Thursday for the inauguration of a Rs200 million plant of medical oxygen.

Director (health) Shaukat Ali, Unicef representative Dr Inamullah Khan, Hazara commissioner Aamir Sultan and other relevant officials were also present on the occasion.

In a veiled reference to PTI voters, the governor said for the first time in the country’s history, the “ballot of educated people destroyed our system of governance.”

Ghulam Ali inaugurates medical oxygen plant at Abbottabad hospital

He appreciated the Unicef for setting up a second medical oxygen plant here in addition to providing other services to the people.

Mr Ali said all members of society should think about their contributions to the country’s development.

He called for the development of disadvantaged areas.

The governor lauded the role of doctors for serving the people. He said the people shouldn’t pay heed to “emotions-driven politics”.

Mr Ali said the doctors, professors and other educated people were to change the country’s destiny.

He said the government resources were destroyed in needless exercises in hospitals and schools.

“We will abolish the MTI Act,” he said.

The governor said patients badly suffered due to strikes by hospital staff members, so there should never be any boycott of duties.

“The doors of the Governor’s House are open to everyone for the resolution of problems,” he said.

Mr Ali said the federal and provincial governments were working tirelessly to provide the people with relief from power loadshedding. He said energy savers were used to operate tubewells.

He urged the Unicef to help the provincial government to put primary and high schools and hospitals on solar energy. He called for the need to develop a master plan for the development of tourist places.

“The people should support the government’s development initiatives,” he said.

Director (health) Shaukat Ali said reforms were being introduced in the province’s health sector for improving facilities in tehsil and district hospitals to benefit visitors.

He said that medical oxygen plants had been installed in Charsadda and Abbottabad districts.

“Overall, five such plants have been installed across the country with the support of the Unicef’,” he said.

Earlier, the doctors of the Ayub Teaching Complex met the governor and briefed him about their demands. They also sought his intervention for the elimination of “corrupt practices” and demanded the removal of the chairman of the hospital’s board of governors.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2023