Hospitals ordered to make grievance addressal system functional

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Advisor Ihtesham Ali chaired the second MS (Medical Superintendents) Conference, attended by Health Secretary Shahidullah, Additional Secretary Manzoor Afridi, Director General Health Dr. Muhammad Saleem, ADGs, RDGs, IMU Director Dr. Ijaz, and MSs from all district hospitals. Director Secondary Re-Vamping Project, Dr. Faisal Shehzad, also participated.

Expressing dissatisfaction, the health advisor criticized the failure of hospitals (except DHQ Nowshera) to establish complaint redressal systems as assigned in the previous conference. He instructed all MSs to implement fully functional grievance systems within one month, warning of strict action otherwise.

Health Secretary Shahidullah gave a one-week deadline to MSs to submit data on packed medical equipment in hospital stores, threatening disciplinary action for non-compliance. This data will help rationalize the use of medical equipment across facilities. Addressing the conference, Ihtesham Ali announced that KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) have been developed for evaluating the administrative performance of Medical Superintendents. A standard medicine list for secondary care hospitals is also being finalized for notification.