October 18, 2007	Thursday	Shawwal 5, 1428

PESHAWAR, Oct 17: The NWFP government has chalked out different strategies for improving the quality of basic healthcare facilities in public and private sector hospitals of the province.

Officials told Dawn that the health department had recently completed a quality care assessment in basic health units, rural health centres and a few selected hospitals.

At present the health department is working on a programme for improving minimum standards in public and private sector hospitals which will be implemented through the director-general office and Health Regulatory Authority (HRA).

The officials said the implementation of the proposed standards would help improve the quality of service being provided by public sector medical.

Improving the quality of the institutes healthcare facilities governed at the district level is one of the priority areas of the health department.

The department is devising a programme under which district governments will be provided additional resources in the next financial year.

Under the plan, a specified amount from the Annual Development Programme will be at the disposal of district governments.

Restructuring of the Health Foundation was also under study to strengthen and expand the scope of the body so that it could promote partnership with the private sector and NGOs.

Under the restructuring plan, more members from the private sector will be inducted into the board of the Health Foundation. Development of an organisation structure and recruitment of skilled professionals from the private sector is also part of the plan.

The reform process in the health sector also includes revamping of the HRA which, according to officials, had failed to deliver because of limited human and technical capacity and the organisational structure.

They said the German Technical Agency had agreed to provide technical support to the health department for restructuring and strengthening of the HRA.