CM approves 700 new dental surgeon posts

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has approved 700 new dental surgeon posts to meet the immediate healthcare requirement throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to an official handout, he was chairing a meeting of the Health Department.

Head of Strategic Support Unit Sahibzada Saeed, Health Secretary Abid Majeed, Law Secretary Muhammad Arifeen, Director General of Health and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

The chief minister called for raising public awareness for the proper utilisation of the Health Insaf Cards by the poor. He said it should be included in the Right to Services law. The participants of the meeting were briefed in details about institutional development progress, recruitment of health staff, promotion of staff, strengthening of health management and health services, outsourcing of health care facilities, healthcare commission, health insurance scheme, operationalisation of medical equipment in districts and recommendations for strengthening of health service.

The meeting was informed that 326 district specialists had been appointed and posted. Up to 275 positions have been advertised and interviews started from April 25. It was informed that 3472 medical officers had been recruited and posted during fiscal year 2016-17.

The participants of the meeting were told that 2188 paramedics, 2850 Lady Health Workers and 111 Lady Health Supervisors appointed and posted. A total of 287 Community Mid Wives had been trained and deployed under the integrated project, while training of another 750 had been started.

Health Management Committees for the DHQs along with the terms of reference had been approved and notified. The committees were operational in Mardan and Peshawar while operationalization process in other districts was in progress that would be completed by May 30.