PESHAWAR, Aug 5: Provincial Health Minister Inayatullah Khan has directed the officials concerned to make the Health Regulatory Authority an efficient and dynamic body to monitor and enhance the quality of healthcare facilities in the NWFP.

He was presiding over a meeting held to review the progress of the Health Regulatory Authority (HRA) here on Saturday.

HRA Chairman Islam Bahadar Khan, Health Secretary Abdus Samad Khan, Health Services Director-General Dr Jalilur Rahman, members of the Health Regulatory Authority, Health Sector Reforms Unit chief Younas Javed, HSRU coordinator Dr Bernard Appelt and Dr Javed of the GTZ attended the meeting.

A committee comprising Prof (retired) Dr Jamil Ahmad, Dr Bernard Applet, Dr. Mohammad Javed, Dr Shaheen Afridi of HSRU and Dr Nadeem Khan was formed to develop standards for the purpose.

The standards to be developed would be circulated and used to assess the performance of hospitals.

A list would be published to inform public about quality healthcare facilities and hospitals conforming to the standards by December 2006.

These institutions would be accredited to issue various certificates and also reimbursement for health insurances.

ITCN ASIA: The Information Technology Department of the NWFP will participate in a three-day ITCN Asia 2006 IT & Telecommunication exhibition in Karachi, being held from August 9 to 11.