Health budget of KP raised by 200 percent in five years: report

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government while taking series of steps to ensure better health services delivery in the province increased the health budget by 200 percent during 2013-18, said the five-year performance report of the provincial government issued here Tuesday. A total of 200 percent increase has been made in the budget which currently stands at 30.2 billion whereas during 2008-13, the budget stood at only Rs 9.9 Billion.
In an attempt to provide people of the province with free and quality healthcare facilities, Rs 5.3 billion were allocated for the Sehat Insaaf Project under which 70 percent of the provinces' population has been provided with health insurance.
Figures made available by the health department indicate that a total of Rs 2.6 billion have been spent so far for providing healthcare to patients under the Sehat Insaf Card scheme. The services can be availed in designated private hospitals and 106 public hospitals in the province. Additionally, the health department has also successfully completed 15 ongoing projects of the previous government due to which 2085 beds have been made available to patients in government hospitals whereas 15 additional projects are in its completion phase which will ensure availability of 2626 additional beds in public hospitals.
Similarly, as per the five years report, the allocation of budget for free treatment of cancer patients has been increased to Rs 1.9 billion. The scope of treatment has also been extended to cover all cancer patients whereas previously, this facility could only be availed by 800 patients having specific cancer type. Currently, 3500 cancer patients can avail free treatment every year.
The provincial government has also allocated Rs 925 million for provision of insulin and medicine necessary for diabetic patients & those having kidney diseases. So far, 87,668 patients have been assisted under the initiative. The provincial government has also taken measures to ensure provision of free medicine to patients. Under the scheme, for the past three years, Rs 1 billion has been allocated to the emergency department of every District headquarters hospital and Medical Teaching Institutes. In order to ensure provision of health services in rural villages, the present government has revived the basic health facilities in villages and had made them fully functional. Out of 111 basic health units in the province, 62 are currently working for 24 hours in different shifts.
For ensuring access of patients to expert and professional doctors, tele- medicine initiative has been taken in 5 districts costing a total of Rs 95 Million for purchase of necessary equipment. This initiative is currently helping patients in villages to gain access to a board of professional doctors by connecting them through information technology. Currently, the headquarters for telemedicine initiative is services hospital, Peshawar.
The present government has also completed the construction of the provinces first ever burn & trauma centre costing Rs 2.2 billion and having 120 beds. The supply order for purchase of all necessary equipment's for centre has been issued and 347 posts of doctors and necessary staff have also been created.
The government has also introduced independent monitoring mechanisms of the hospitals in order to evaluate the performance of doctors. So far, Rs 3.5 billion fines have been levied on doctors and paramedical staff throughout the province on account of absenteeism.
Multiple legislative measures have been taken to strengthen the health institution in the province including the Health Care Commission Act, Food Safety Authority Act, MTI Reforms, Medical Aid Act, Health Foundation Act, Safe Blood Transfusion Act, Protection of Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Act. These and many other legislative measures have been undertaken during the past five years to ensure institutional strengthening of the health department.