Daily Times

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has allocated Rs. 65.7 billion for the health sector in the 2017-18 budget showing a 20 per cent increase over the 2016-17 fiscal year.

Finance Minister Muzaffar Said said the total volume of the health sector was 11pc of total budget volume of Rs. 603 billion for the year 2017-18.

He said as many as 394 posts were created in the current fiscal year. As many as 1,149 posts were created at the province and 2,793 at district level in the outgoing fiscal year.

Likewise, 1,140 posts were proposed for creation in 2017-18 and 674 posts proposed for creation at province and 466 in districts in 2017-18. A sum of Rs 13.780 billion has been estimated for 2017-18 to be transferred to district health offices including medical teaching institutions (MTIs) for smooth health delivery system.

Grant in aid to be provided to health institutions across the province including Rs 963 million for Ayub Medical College, Rs 1,594 million for Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad, Rs 248 million for DHQ Hospital Bannu, Rs 144 million for women and children’s hospital Bannu, Rs 587m for Khalifa Gulnawaz teaching hospital Bannu, Rs 278m for Bannu medical college, Rs 232m for Gomal Medical College DI Khan, Rs 313m for Mufti Mehmood Memoral Hospital DI Khan, Rs 628m for DHQ Hospital DI Khan and Rs 772million for Mardan Medical Complex Mardan.

He further added that in the financial year 2017-18 around 1,140 various categories of posts in the health sector will be advertised of which 674 are in the province while 466 posts will be for the district level.

In the health budget stipend for student nurses will be from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 while Health Professional allowance will be extended to Medical Teaching Institution Act in the hospitals while the health professional allowance has been extended in the province.

The Minister for Finance in his address at the provincial assembly said that the provincial government has taken revolutionary steps in the health sector, adding that legislation has been passed in the floor of the house for strengthening of the health sector.

He informed that a blood transfusion center was established while Drug Rules 1982 extension approval has been passed; adding Sehat Insaf Card and other initiatives of the provincial government has going to change the life style of the people of the province.

He informed that around 20 million has been issued to the Institute of Kidney Disease while the treatment of cancer has been made free for the patients across the province.

He added that a huge amount has been spent for the eradication of polio in the province, adding that with the provincial government committed to eradicated polio from the province.