Governor calls for modern healthcare facilities in KP, says focus needed on remote areas

PESHAWAR, Nov 01 (APP): Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Sunday said that medical conferences provide an important platform for promotion of knowledge, research, exchange of experiences and awareness about modern treatment methods.

Addressing the concluding ceremony of the annual conference of Pakistan Association of Urological Surgeons, the Governor said that medical institutions and experts must align themselves with international standards so that patients in Pakistan could benefit from advanced healthcare facilities.

He stressed the need to ensure quality and specialised healthcare services in merged districts, southern districts and far-flung areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that modern treatment facilities should not remain limited to big cities and every citizen must have equal access to healthcare.

Governor Kundi said improvement of health infrastructure, provision of modern medical equipment, doctors’ training and promotion of medical research were essential for strengthening the healthcare system.

He added that professional organisations like Pakistan Association of Urological Surgeons could play a vital role in enhancing doctors’ capacity, training young medical experts and developing collaboration with public sector hospitals.

Paying tribute to doctors and healthcare professionals, he said they were performing their responsibilities in difficult circumstances to save human lives and serve suffering humanity. He said cooperation between public and private sectors as well as international medical and educational linkages should be promoted to benefit from global experiences.

The Governor congratulated Professor Dr Liaqat and the organising committee for successfully holding the conference and said that academic discussions and exchange of experiences during the event would help bring practical improvements in the health sector.

Talking to media persons, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said the federal government was not providing due support to the province and this situation should end. He said practical steps were needed to improve the health sector of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the pattern of Punjab and Sindh.

He said the salary of house officers at Rs70,000 was insufficient and the matter would be reviewed. He added that positive initiatives of previous governments would be continued while efforts would be made to address gaps in the healthcare sector.

The Governor said the youth were the future of the country and they needed support and guidance to move forward. He said a stable and conducive environment would be provided to investors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to promote investment and development.

He said collective efforts were required to build a changing, progressive and stronger Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.