PESHAWAR: Advisor to CM on Health Ihtisham Ali said that the nurses’ training in the UK’s hospitals would surely improve the patients’ healthcare in public sector hospitals in the province.

Speaking at a ceremony upon the return of nurses after completing five weeks of training in the UK, the advisor said that strengthening nursing care was among the top priorities of the government, a press release said. He stated that under the programme, 500 nurses would receive free training under a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, and SAME RPS Chester University, UK.

Ihtisham Ali, who was the chief guest, said that the programme, aiming to boost healthcare delivery, was part of their manifesto to prioritise health and education despite financial constraints. He praised KMU’s efforts and assured continued support for health-related initiatives.

“Every proposal I have presented to the chief minister for the health sector has received his full backing. Those who have undergone training under this programme are our valuable assets. They can repay their debt to this province by serving it with dedication,” he stated.

Dr Ijaz Hussain, Director at SAME RPS Chester University, UK, highlighted the importance of international collaboration in enhancing nursing standards. He stated that despite challenging circumstances in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 16 experts from British universities had trained nurses over the past few months.

KMU VC Prof Ziaul Haq expressed satisfaction with the initiative, stating that the programme provided nurses with valuable opportunities for professional growth and skill enhancement.

“Doctors have more access to development opportunities compared to nurses, who are frequently ignored. This programme addresses that gap by training over 500 nurses to align them with modern healthcare requirements,” he remarked.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2024