PESHAWAR: The government has notified search and nomination council to select members of Board of Governors for Health Foundation and pave way for enforcement of public-private partnership programme and engage private organisations to improve patients’ care.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Foundation Act, implemented in June 2016, seeks to promote public-private partnership and improve patients’ care at health facilities in the province. Under the Act, the government would ink agreements with private organisations for installation of diagnostic equipment, like X-ray plants, ultrasound, CT and MRI scanners, etc at hospitals to provide services to the patients.

“The council, with health minister as its chief, has been tasked to search private members of BoG within a fortnight,” sources said. They added that a notification was issued two days ago with a view to fast track work on the law and put in place services at the government-run hospitals.

Sources said that the six-member BoG would appoint a managing director, having 15 years managerial work experience through open merit to head the Health Foundation.

Govt to ink agreements with private organisations for installing equipment at hospitals

They said that machines worth billion of rupees went into disuse in state-run hospitals owing to lack of repair and maintenance, forcing patients to visit hospitals in major cities.

“There will be three private members of the BoG to ensure that decisions are taken in public interests,” said sources. They said that authorities could get MRI scanner for a government-run hospital in collaboration with a professional organisation that would also be responsible for its upkeep.

“The organisations will be selected trough open bidding and those offering lowest rates and best services would get the contracts. It will lead to innovations in healthcare delivery,” said sources.

The law has also empowered the health department to stay independent of government’s control in cases relating to public-private partnership with national and international organisations.

The Public Private Partnership Act, 2012 made it binding upon all the government departments to seek approval from finance, administration, planning and development departments for such arrangements with private parties that caused waste of time so the health department proposed Health Foundation Act, which was approved, sources said.

The government established Health Foundation in 1995 to give small loans for clinics to fresh medical graduates and capacity building of healthcare professionals but now its scope has been widened to promote partnerships across the province.

A source said that the government delayed most of the health-related law passed in the past three years and was trying to swing into action.

Formerly, the chief minister in his capacity as chairman of the foundation, appointed its managing director but now it will work independently. The law was drafted in 2013 but it took a lot of time in the relevant department. It has empowered the health department to take prompt decision with regarding signing memorandum of understanding and agreements with private organisations.

The law exclusively deals with partnerships in health department. “The BoG, as an advisory body of Health Foundation, will identify areas through committees in districts and the support they require,” he said.

Sources said that the government had also the authority under the law to appoint a managing director for six months to start work before the selection of a regular person.

The BoG will supervise the activities of the foundation to improve healthcare by adopting innovative approaches and put in place standard operating procedures and guidelines.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2016