KP Health Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Dr Nigar Johar Khan has clarified that the Sehat Card scheme will not be abolished. Instead, the government will address its shortcomings and improve its performance.
Briefing the media in Peshawar, the adviser said 30,697 personnel are currently serving in the provincial health sector to cater to a population of approximately 40 million. She said the province requires around 64,000 hospital beds according to its population, compared with the existing capacity of just 18,000 beds.
The health adviser announced that 124 hospitals across the province would be equipped with solar power systems to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply.
She further said Rs1.65 billion would be spent on purchasing medical equipment for hospitals in 12 districts, while an additional Rs2 billion would be allocated for medical equipment in hospitals across 25 districts.
Addressing concerns about the Sehat Card scheme, Johar clarified that the programme would not be abolished. Instead, the government would address its shortcomings and improve its performance.
She also revealed that the prime minister had pledged Rs1.462 billion for the establishment of a children’s hospital in Hayatabad. Furthermore, the federal government would provide Rs850 million for establishing breast cancer centres across five divisions of the province.
The announcements are part of the government’s efforts to improve healthcare facilities, expand hospital capacity and strengthen medical services across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
