PESHAWAR — The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has initiated a comprehensive 48-point reform plan to modernize the province’s medical infrastructure. Under this strategy, the provincial government has decided to operate 72 hospitals through public-private partnerships (PPP) to ensure the delivery of high-quality and timely medical services to the public.
Officials confirmed that advertisements for 34 of these hospitals have already been released, while 38 additional facilities remain in the pipeline for outsourcing.
Digital Transformation and Facial Recognition
To tackle the chronic issue of staff absenteeism, the government is fully digitalizing the health system. The newly established Health Information and Service Delivery Unit is currently developing six distinct digital modules.
Most notably, authorities have gone live with a facial recognition attendance system in two districts. Training is currently underway across the rest of the province. This technology aims to guarantee a 90% attendance rate for doctors and paramedics at both primary and secondary healthcare facilities.
Strengthening Maternal Health and Rural Care
The government has set an ambitious target to provide 24-hour maternity services at 250 Basic Health Units (BHUs) across the province. Implementation is already showing progress:
- Renovations are complete at 60 centers.
- Essential medicines have been supplied to these upgraded facilities.
- Procurement is underway to ensure family planning services and medicines are available at all BHUs in collaboration with the Population Welfare Department.
Equipment Upgrades and Medicine Procurement
The reform plan also focuses on tangible resources. The government recently purchased medicines worth 1.86 billion PKR to provide free, high-quality treatment to patients. Furthermore, the administration approved 32 secondary healthcare hospitals for equipment upgrades; currently, 95% of these facilities have received their new medical instruments.
Addressing Staff Shortages and Polio Eradication
To bridge the gap in human resources, the Health Department is in the process of recruiting over 2,400 new doctors and nurses. This influx of personnel aims to ensure that no BHU remains without a medical professional.
Simultaneously, the province is intensifying its fight against polio. The government has approved a new strategy for 2025–2030, which includes strengthening Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) services and activating 34 additional health centers.
By integrating technology with structural healthcare reforms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial government aims to build a transparent, efficient, and patient-centric medical system.
