KOHAT: In a late night visit, provincial health minister Taimoor Saleem Jhagra terminated the whole staff of the casualty ward of the Lachi Type-D Hospital, and suspended the medical superintendent over the dilapidated condition of the health facility.

The hospital’s administration was kept in the dark about the minister’s visit. The minister directed the district health officer to improve the condition of hospitals.

He was accompanied by MNA from Karak, Shahid Khattak.

Earlier, during a visit to the under-construction medical college building and the KDA Teaching Hospital, Mr Jhagra said with huge investments in the Sehat Sahulat Card programme and the healthcare service delivery system patients in Kohat would be having quality treatment locally instead of being referred to Peshawar hospitals.

He said under the health card programme, every citizen would be entitled to avail treatment valuing Rs1 million, which will be made available by January 31, 2021.

He said with the health card project and other revolutionary steps being taken by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government local manufacturing of medicines would be encouraged creating jobs and increasing exports. The investments in the healthcare system would also be increased, he added.

He asked MPA Ziaullah Bangash to prepare a detailed report about deficiencies so that required funds could be provided to the Kohat hospitals.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2020