APC in Swat opposes decision to convert hospital into MTI

MINGORA: An All Parties Conference (APC) here on Tuesday rejected the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s decision to convert the Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals into a Medical Teaching Institution (MTI).

The conference, held at the Saidu Medical College, termed the move a bid to privatize the facility.The APC was organized by the Young Doctors Association (YDA) Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals and the Health Employees Coordination Council. It witnessed widespread participation from political leaders, legal and business communities, civil society members, and social organizations.

The participants included Irshad Ali Khan (PMLN), Shamsher Ali Khan Advocate and Irfan Chattan (PPP), Akhtar Ali Khan Khanji (Jamaat-e-Islami), Sherzada Bahadur Khan (QWP), Shershah Khan (ANP), Mushtaq Khan Advocate (president, Swat Bar Association), Abdul Rahim (president, Malakand Division Traders Federation, Dr Khalid Mehmood, spokesperson, Swat Traders Federation, Dr Shehzad Khan (President, YDA Saidu Teaching Hospital, Dr Asif Khan (General Secretary, YDA KP, Dr Shehzad Abdullah, Dr Murad Ali, and Dr Imran of Provincial Doctors Association.

The speakers unanimously condemned the provincial government’s alleged failure to provide basic health and education services. They demanded the immediate restoration and upgradation of the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Swat and announced a series of protests across the province if the demands were not met.

They argued that declaring Saidu Teaching Hospital as an MTI was an attempt to cover up the government’s incompetence, calling it a step toward privatisation and contract-based healthcare - a system they firmly rejected.

“The decision to implement the MTI system reflects the incompetence and lack of seriousness of Swat’s elected representatives, including eight MPAs and three MNAs,” said one of the speakers. “They have utterly failed to provide any meaningful relief to the people,” he added.

Participants demanded that the DHQ Hospital’s status be maintained and upgraded to a Category A facility. They also called for Saidu Medical College to be granted university status to improve opportunities for education and research for local students.

The conference concluded with a unanimous resolution demanding immediate and serious action from the government. It warned that failure to meet these demands would lead to a phased strike campaign across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including street protests and province-wide demonstrations.