Health facilities: KP approves policy on integration of pharmacy services

PESHAWAR: The KP government has approved the first-ever “Policy for Integration of Pharmacy Services in Health Facilities”, marking a major step forward in the transformation and strengthening of healthcare delivery across the province.

According to a notification issued by the Health Department, the policy was formally approved by the Provincial Cabinet under Rule 25(3) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Rules of Business, 1985.

This landmark policy aims to access quality medicines, reducing cost of treatment. It will help establishment of pharmacovigilance centres to minimise illness and death rates. It also aims drug information and poison control centres and also availability of quality affordable medicines through fair price pharmacies. It will strengthen the drug control administration and good laboratory practices for testing and analysis. It will ensure reliable supply chain medicines.

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The policy also focuses on the optimal utilisation of pharmacy human resources, ensuring that pharmacists play a proactive and professional role in patient care and hospital management, ultimately benefiting the general public through better treatment outcomes.

In its official statement, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa described the approval of the policy as a milestone achievement in the province’s ongoing health sector reforms. The government reaffirmed its commitment to improving healthcare quality, efficiency, and accountability in all health facilities.

Under this policy, the province will ensure the provision of affordable, effective, and quality-assured medicines across hospitals and primary health centres. The reform is expected to help reduce the duration of hospital stays, strengthen drug control and surveillance systems, and introduce strong measures against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) through rational and evidence-based use of medicines.

The detailed policy document has been made available for public access on the official website of the KP Health Department.

This initiative reflects the government’s unwavering resolve to modernise healthcare governance, promote patient safety, and ensure that every citizen of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has access to safe and quality medicines.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025