Peshawar: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, led a high-level review meeting of the provincial Health Department to assess the performance of its Independent Monitoring Unit (IMU) over the past six months.
The session, attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister on Health Ehtesham Ali, the Health Secretary, and senior department officials, focused on evaluating progress, addressing gaps, and ensuring accountability in healthcare service delivery across the province.
Increased Monitoring and Accountability
During the briefing, officials reported that the IMU had conducted 17,743 visits to healthcare facilities, including 14,939 visits to primary health centres (PHCs) and 2,831 visits to secondary health centres.
The results indicated notable improvements in staff presence. At primary health centres, the availability of medical officers rose from 61% to 73%, while absenteeism decreased from 12% to 8%. Over the same period, the department deducted Rs10.5 million from salaries of absentee doctors. Out of 1,766 absent doctors, explanations were obtained from 1,096, departmental proceedings started against 12, inquiries initiated for 36, warnings issued to 244, and additional disciplinary action applied where necessary.
At secondary health centres, medical officer availability improved slightly from 83% to 86%, with Rs6.8 million recovered from absent staff. Among 1,487 absent doctors, 719 were asked for explanations, 12 faced departmental action, 18 underwent inquiries, 264 received warnings, and 522 were subject to other disciplinary measures.
Additionally, the report revealed that nine Medical Superintendents and seven District Health Officers were removed due to underperformance, signaling the government’s commitment to stricter accountability.
Improvements in Medicine and Equipment Supply
The review also highlighted progress in the availability of medicines and essential medical equipment. In primary health centres, availability of essential drugs increased from 47% to 55%, while secondary centres saw a slight rise from 47% to 48%. Availability of medical equipment in PHCs improved from 93% to 95%, and secondary centres reported an increase in 60 essential items from 78% to 80%.
Chief Minister Calls for Stronger Oversight
Chief Minister Gandapur instructed officials to strengthen monitoring systems to ensure uninterrupted services at all healthcare facilities. He emphasized the need for constant availability of essential medicines, immediate resolution of equipment shortages, and stricter hygiene standards, especially in hospital washrooms.
Gandapur reaffirmed his government’s vision of providing quality education and healthcare, stressing that investments in the health sector must translate into tangible benefits for citizens without delay.
Analysis
The latest figures suggest that KP’s Health Department is making measurable progress in reducing absenteeism and improving resource availability. While gains in medicine supply at secondary centres remain modest, the proactive steps, including disciplinary action against underperforming staff, signal a more accountable and results-oriented governance approach. The next challenge will be sustaining these improvements and ensuring equitable access to healthcare across both urban and rural regions.
