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QUETTA, Jul 24 (APP):Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar inaugurated the newly renovated Benazir Shaheed Hospital on Thursday to enhance health care services in the provincial capital, marking a major milestone in Balochistan’s ongoing Health Reform Agenda.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kakar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming public healthcare under the leadership of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, with a focus on infrastructure upgrades, digital monitoring, and equitable access to medical services
The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to healthcare reforms, announcing key legislative changes and improved patient services and announced that both Benazir Shaheed Hospital and Mufti Mehmood Hospital will be upgraded to Teaching Hospitals, offering postgraduate training for medical professionals.
Acting on the directives of CM Bugti, the Balochistan government has launched a comprehensive Health Reform Agenda to enhance healthcare services and ensure access to quality medical facilities across the province.
Minister Kakar acknowledged years of neglect in the health sector, citing poor infrastructure, medicine shortages, and outdated equipment. To combat absenteeism among healthcare providers, the government has installed AI-based surveillance cameras linked to a central server. Doctors’ salaries will now be performance-based, ensuring accountability.
Doctors from Quetta will be reassigned to their home districts, based on their original medical college admissions. To support staff in remote areas, the government will construct residential quarters and flats, improving service delivery and living conditions.
Pharmacies have been established in every block of Sandeman Provincial Hospital and Bolan Medical College Hospital to ensure round the clock availability of medicine for patients. A digital system has been implemented to monitor medicine distribution and stock levels, with supplies already dispatched to 12 districts.
The government has expedited efforts to ensure the availability of free medicines in public hospitals of the province as many people could not afford expensive medicines,” he added.
Kakar emphasized that no patient will be forced to buy medicines from the market, and warned that negligence in healthcare delivery will not be tolerated.
To reduce maternal mortality in rural areas, the government will launch the Benazir Ambulance Reference System, providing emergency healthcare access to pregnant women in remote regions. Modern medical equipment has been supplied to public hospitals to meet current demands.
A health helpline will be launched soon for complaint registration, with designated focal persons assigned to address issues promptly.
Under the supervision of CM Bugti and Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, regular reviews of hospital operations and staffing are underway. Minister Kakar reaffirmed that access to quality healthcare is a basic right, urging District Health Officers to conduct inspections and take strict action against absentee staff.
He announced plans to establish Gambat and NICVD-style hospitals in Naseerabad and Quetta, reducing the need for patients to travel to other cities for specialized treatment. A centralized database has been created to track the deployment of doctors and paramedical staff, addressing previous gaps in record-keeping.
The provincial government has completed Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) for doctors, pending since 2012 and promoted 1,200 medical professionals. Additionally, anti-rabies, anti-snake venom, and tetanus vaccines have been supplied to District Headquarters Hospitals.
The Child Life Foundation project will be expanded to every divisional headquarters, ensuring pediatric emergency services are accessible province-wide.
He said the government has provided latest equipment to the hospitals aimed to provide best healthcare facilities to the masses.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Senator Sardar Umar Gorgage, President of the Pakistan Peoples Party Balochistan, former Chief Secretary Balochistan Nadir Changezi, Health Secretary Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, and Additional Secretary Saqib Kakar.
Following the inauguration, Provincial Health Minister Bakht Mohammad Kakar conducted a detailed visit of the hospital, where he also inaugurated the Gynecology Ward and the Female Medicine Ward. During his visit, the minister also met with patients in various wards and listening to their concerns. He promptly directed the Medical Superintendent (MS) and other relevant officials to address these issues on the spot.