PESHAWAR, May 25: The institutional-based practice has been discontinued because of the intense public pressure and after proper consultation in this regard, replacing it with a better bill that will soon be approved by the provincial assembly.

This was stated by provincial health minister Inayatullah while speaking at the annual function of the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association the other day.

Stressing the need for better healthcare facilities, he said that the Muttahida Majlis-i-AMal government was trying to improve the medical facilities at the provincial level.

The supply of life-saving drugs was being ensured at four major hospitals of the province, improving the emergency health delivery system, adding that Rs20 million had been provided by the senior provincial minister in this regard and the scheme would later be extended to all hospitals at the district headquarters level.

Similarly, he said, local hospitals were being modernised while the providing relief to the common man who used to travel to the cities to seek treatment.

The provincial cabinet, he said, had also approved the establishment of a medical university and a women’s university, adding that a token amount of Rs1 million had already been allocated in this regard.

Stressing the need for greater participation of the private sector in provision of medical facilities to the people, he said that their help was needed in areas like preventive medicine, immunisation, and public awareness programmes.

MNA Shabir Ahmed, Dr Ahmed Mir, President PIMA, Dr Iftikhar Hussain, CE Al-Khidmat Hospital, Dr Saqib Ansari and Dr Tanveer Hussain Zubairi highlighted the role of PIMA.