PESHAWAR, Aug 21: NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah Khan on Monday launched a project for free delivery of diagnostic and treatment services to tuberculosis patients under the direct observed treatment strategy (Dots) through private general physicians in four districts.

Initially the project will be launched in Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera and Mardan. After its successful implementation, it will be extended to the rest of the province.

Speaking at the launching ceremony at a hotel, the minister said an aggressive campaign launched in the province had mobilised the society about TB effectively.

The minister said that besides collection of data of private clinics and laboratories, standards were being set for them.

“Private institutions will be ranked according to the criteria and hospitals and labs found below the standard will be banned, while the good ones will be advertised properly,” he asserted.

He directed Health Director-General Dr Jalilur Rehman to appoint a focal person for maintaining liaison with private physicians.

Provincial TB Control Programme Manager Dr Abdul Ghafoor said an operational strategy had been formed for implementation of the project.

Provincial chief of the College of Family Medicine Dr Saeedul Majeed said 30 general physicians had been registered for the project and the number would be increased to 50 in a year.