KP govt decides to outsource hospitals

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Friday decided to outsource different hospitals in various districts and approved a 10 per cent increase in the stipends of the trainee medical officers (TMOs) besides setting up isolation wards to deal with diphtheria patients.

A handout said, a special cabinet meeting of the provincial government was convened at the Civil Secretariat in Peshawar.Provincial Minister for Establishment, Administration, and Inter-Provincial Relations, Syed Masood Shah, chaired the meeting.

The cabinet members, the chief secretary, administrative secretaries, and other senior officials were in attendance.The agenda included discussions on various issues related to healthcare and administration in the province.

The meeting made decisions on outsourcing of different hospitals in various KP districts. The participants emphasized the importance of merit and compliance with regulations in outsourcing hospitals.

Recommendations were considered to increase the monthly stipends for TMOs in the hospitals.Advisor on Health Dr. Riaz Anwar addressed the press conference after the cabinet meeting. He said the TMOs have a crucial role in the healthcare system.

The adviser said that although a 30 per cent increase was desired, but given the economic conditions of the province, a 10 per cent increase was deemed feasible.The cabinet, he added, approved a 10 per cent increase in the TMOs stipends. There had been no increase in the stipends of the TMOs since 2017. About the situation of the diphtheria outbreak in the province, the advisor stated that the Health Department is fully alert to the situation.

Dr Riaz Anwar said currently, there 269 cases of diphtheria had been reported across the province. “Had parents administered vaccines to children on time, the current situation might have been avoided,” he added.

Health Secretary Mahmood Aslam shared that the province has an ample supply of anti-diphtheria serum.He said directives have been issued to establish isolation wards in Medical Teaching Institutions and District Headquarters Hospitals for dealing with diphtheria patients.