PESHAWAR, July 2: NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah Khan has sought proposals for providing surgical facilities at reasonable rates to patients in teaching hospitals in the evening.

Speaking as chief guest at the launching ceremony held on Sunday to mark the installation of advanced equipment in cardiology and cardiovascular units of the Lady Reading Hospital, the minister said the government had allocated a record amount for development of the health sector.

He said the health budget had been increased from Rs3 billion to Rs6 billion. “The developmental budget had been increased to Rs2.1 billion,” he said.

He said 150 projects had been prepared for promotion of health facilities at the district level.

He said three district headquarters hospitals had been upgraded during the past year while seven would be upgraded during the current year.

He said Rs100 million had been allocated to provide staff for hospitals being completed in the near future.

The minister said that apart from recruitment of 400 nurses under a three-year project, 750 women technicians and 500 other technical persons would be recruited.