Despite repeated announcements, the climate change cell in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) health department has yet to be established, more than a year after the plan was approved. Officials confirmed that the project has stalled in bureaucratic files, leaving no formal structure or operational framework in place.
According to official sources, the provincial health department, with technical support from UK Evidence for Health, conducted a comprehensive study last year on the impacts of climate change on public health in the province. The study highlighted that floods and extreme weather events had worsened waterborne and vector-borne diseases, posing serious threats to maternal and child health.
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The study recommended immediate steps to strengthen health resilience against climate-induced disasters. Following this, the government decided to set up a dedicated climate change cell in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department, an initiative also announced by the former health adviser.
Plans Buried in Files Despite Growing Health Risks
The proposed cell was intended to raise public awareness about climate change impacts, ensure seasonal medicine supplies to hospitals, and strengthen medical response systems in disaster-hit areas. It was also meant to improve data systems for rapid response, build a stable medical supply chain, and enhance the readiness of healthcare workers during floods and natural calamities.
Officials said the initiative was to become part of the provincial government’s adaptation plan. The health department had even assured international partners of space, staff, and logistical support. However, no tangible progress has been made, and the plan remains confined to paperwork.
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Currently, the department operates the District Health Information System and the Integrated Disease Surveillance System, but both face limitations in providing early warnings or quick responses to diseases triggered by climate variations. Officials warned that the province remains vulnerable to outbreaks of waterborne illnesses, mosquito-borne infections, and respiratory diseases linked to shifting weather patterns.
Senior health department officials acknowledged that no formal notification has been issued to create the climate change cell in KP health department. They said the department is relying on existing programs for data collection and emergency response, though these are insufficient to address the growing climate-related health challenges.
