The implementation of a project to establish 15 health centers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in collaboration with the Bill Gates Foundation, is at risk. Sources indicate that if land is not provided by March 2025, the project could be canceled. The Bill Gates Foundation had offered to build these health centers to help eradicate polio in 55 high-risk areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, providing free services such as polio drops, vaccines, and other basic health services.
The Health Department has identified four potential sites for these centers, but approval and NOCs have not been issued yet. Currently, these health centers are operating from rented buildings, a situation that has been in place since 2020. Secretary Health Adil Shah mentioned that the request for the sites and NOCs has been made to the Local Government Department, and efforts are underway to complete the project soon.
