Independent Report
Peshawar: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi chaired a high-level meeting on the health sector and directed authorities to accelerate ongoing reforms with a focus on sustainable solutions rather than ad hoc “firefighting” measures.
He ordered fast-tracking the revamping of primary and secondary hospitals to reduce pressure on tertiary facilities, discouraging unnecessary referrals, and establishing a centralized bed management system with clear justification for unavoidable referrals. Afridi said avoidable referrals are increasing patient hardship and burdening major hospitals.
The chief minister sought actionable proposals to expand beds in MTI hospitals and ICUs, emphasized strengthening pediatric services, and directed earmarking funds for children’s treatment under the health card. He also called for finalizing burden-sharing rules with private hospitals on the health card panel.
Additional directives included doctors’ hostels near hospitals, system upgrades to prevent test delays, a shared hospital dashboard, and prioritizing health and education despite resource constraints.
