FAZAL HAQ
MARDAN: Advisor to Cheif Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Health Advocate Ihtisham Ali on Monday said that the provincial government planned to start providing free medicine to poor and deserving patients in the Out Patient Departments (OPD).He said that the initiative will begin at the Mardan Medical Complex as a pilot project. He expressed the views during a visit to Medical Teaching Institution Bacha Khan Medical College (BKMC).Provincial Minister for Food Zahir Shah Toru, Provincial Assembly Members Iftikhar Mashwani and Abdul Salam Afridi accompanied him duringthe visit.
The Chairman of the Board of Governors (BoG) of Medical Teaching Institution Mardan Professor Dr. Arshad Javed, along with BOG members Mr. Arshad , Muhammad Faheem and Fazal Qadir, welcomed the him on arrivalat the college.
Dean/CEO of BKMC/ MMC, Professor Dr. Amjad Ali; Medical Director MMC, Professor Dr. Rehmanuddin; Hospital Director Professor Dr. Muhammad Fazil; Professor Dr. Moatasim Billah; Secretary BOG Azhar Khan; Director of Finance Muhammad Shiraz; Nursing Director Barkatullah Yousafzai; Director Human Resources Abid-ur-Rehman; IT Manager Mohsin Ali, HR Manager Altaf Ahmed; officials from C&W, and others were also present.
Health Advisor Ihtisham Ali emphasized that the development of health and education sectors is a top priority of the provincial government and no effort will be spared in improving these sectors. He assured that as Mardan is his hometown, the issues of its hospitals will be addressed on a priority basis.
He promised to provide all necessary financial support for the completion of the remaining developmental work of Benazir Bhutto Children’s Hospital. He also highlighted the provincial government’s plan to establish a major medical institution in each region, which would significantly reduce the patient load on teaching institutions.
He mentioned that the Health Department was striving to improve the quality of facilities and ensure staff attendance in Type-D, Tehsil Headquarters and District Headquarters hospitals. This initiative will reduce the burden on major hospitals and provide healthcare facilities to patients at their doorstep.
He announced that the department is also working on an online portal, which will provide details about the availability of medicines in all hospitals and healthcare centers across the province. Through this portal, real-time updates on available stock will be accessible.He warned that immediate and strict action would be taken against any public complaints regarding small or large medical institutions, and disciplinary measures will be implemented against the responsible individuals.
Earlier, Professor Dr. Amjad Ali gave a detailed briefing to the Health Advisor, Food Minister, and Provincial Assembly members regarding the medical and academic activities provided at the institution, as well as ongoing and completed projects.He stated that in the past six months, departments like Endocrinology, Neurology, Dermatology, and Plastic Surgery have been established at MMC. Additionally, projects such as a 10-bed Medical ICU and a Cath Lab have been completed and will soon be operational.He further informed that a 130-bed children’s ward has been established at Benazir Bhutto Children’s Hospital, which will soon be functionalized and the Pediatrics Department will be relocated there. He added that the construction work of Benazir Bhutto Children’s Hospital is in its final stages and requested the prompt release of funds for completing the remaining work. He also appealed for financial resources to purchase an MRI and CT scan machine for MMC.
