The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health directorate has set out plans for hospital outsourcing across 12 designated districts, saying 43 health facilities are being placed under public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements—contracts in which private operators run government hospitals under public rules—with stronger monitoring so residents continue to receive free diagnostic and medical services.
Officials say the Health Foundation, a public body created under the Public Private Partnership Act to help private managers run government-owned hospitals that meet set criteria, had already prepared to add 28 more hospitals in these districts. Combined with facilities already in the programme, that brings the outsourcing total to 43, and work on those contracts is under way.
Who will oversee the designated districts
Dr Fazal Rahman, who heads the vector diseases and malaria control programme at the directorate-general of health services, has been nominated as director health for eight tribal districts and four others, including Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank. Officials said all 36 provincial departments have put forward names of representatives and proposals to set up directorates for the designated districts.
Appointment notifications for the directors have not yet been issued, officials said, though nominees have already submitted short- and long-term measures to improve infrastructure. Those directors, they added, will report to the additional chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Existing PPP hospitals and what stays open
In the merged districts, 15 of 19 health facilities already outsourced under the PPP programme will continue because of better performance, officials indicated. Dr Fazal, who has also served on the outsourcing oversight review committee, said he was aware of problems in the programme and that they would be addressed.
He said the government had built large health infrastructure that needs constant oversight if patients are to benefit. Funds have been promised, he said, to secure medical supplies and specialised services and to reduce the need for people to travel to other cities for treatment.
Near-term priorities: care, power and maternity services
According to the plan he described, priority is being given to outpatient departments, accident and emergency units, wards and investigative services, using existing staff, while hospital outsourcing so far has been assessed as helpful. Electricity remains a central obstacle, especially in the merged districts, he said, which is why a solarisation drive—fitting hospitals with solar power—is treated as essential to keep theatres, laboratories and other units running.
Dr Fazal said three- and six-month proposals have been put forward for immediate upgrades, alongside a six-year plan for longer-term steps after further homework, with the present focus on improving services. Development of gynaecological and mother-and-child services is a priority, he said, so people can get diagnostics, treatment and free medicines through short-term measures over three months. Local communities are also to be involved in health affairs to strengthen patient care.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ke 12 special districts mein 43 sehat ke markaz private sharikat ke zariye chalane ka plan chal raha hai. Hukumat ke mutabiq logon ko muft test aur ilaj milna chahiye, aur nigrani tez ki jayegi. Bannu, Lakki, DI Khan aur Tank jaise ilaqon ke liye naya health director nominate hua hai, lekin notification abhi baqi hai. Bijli ki kami badi masla hai, is liye solar power aur maa-bachay ki khidmaat pe pehla zor hai.
