PESHAWAR, Oct 2: The NWFP government on Thursday unveiled a health package to replace the Institution-Based Practice (IBP).

The package was devised at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani here on Thursday.

The cabinet decided to constitute a seven-member committee to look  into the pros and cons of the possible reinstatement of senior doctors who had resigned from their posts in protest or had taken an early retirement on health grounds following the introduction of the IBP by the previous military regime.

The previous government had barred government doctors from private practice following public complaints about malpractices. Several specialist doctors had resigned, protesting against the decision.

The MMA government, however, scrapped the IBP on the recommendations of a standing committee of the NWFP Assembly.

“We will make sure that the new package is implemented in letter and spirit,” provincial Information Minister Asif Iqbal Daudzai said at a press briefing here.

He said the seven-member committee would look into the implications of reinstating senior doctors, particularly its fallout on doctors who had been moved up the ladder due to the resignations submitted by their senior colleagues.

In the meeting, it was told, the cabinet cut down the consultation fee of specialist doctors from Rs300 to Rs200 and those of the district specialists from Rs150 to Rs100.

It was also decided that only radiologists, pathologists and doctors with particular expertise would operate laboratories for diagnostic purposes. The decision was taken to curb quackery and fake medical laboratories.

The cabinet banned the use of government accommodation for clinical purposes by in-service doctors to ensure their presence in hospitals.

It was decided that every year teams of specialist doctors would undertake weekly visits of far-flung areas and establish medical camps.

In order to bring down the rates of certain tests, the cabinet decided to deduct hospital costs from the share of procedures performed by doctors on private patients. This way the CT scan fee would come down from Rs2,500 to Rs1,500.

The cabinet also decided to establish help and coordination cell at teaching hospitals which would report the minister for health on a weekly basis.

In another major decision, the cabinet, with certain amendments, approved the policy adopted by the environment department regarding the harvesting of dry and windfall trees. The meeting agreed to ensure transparency to protect standing forests in the province.

The cabinet discussed the Police Order 2002 and decided to review the recommendations made by a committee constituted earlier to determine responsibilities and powers of police at various levels.

The meeting decided to upgrade the post of capital city police officer to grade 21.

The cabinet gave the go-ahead to the construction of shingle roads under the Tamer-i-Sarhad Programme.

It was decided that presence of government employees during prayers must be ensured and signboards inscribed with Quranic verses and sayings of the Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) should be set up.