PESHAWAR, Dec 27: The provincial health department will offer a special salary package to health professionals willing to work in the quake-hit districts of the province. ‘‘We have decided to offer Rs80,000 per month to the doctors who will work in the quake-affected districts of the province,’’ said health secretary Abdul Samad Khan while speaking at a workshop held at the Khyber Medical College here on Wednesday titled ‘District Health Planning and Advocacy’.

Special salary packages for nurses, paramedics and other staffers willing to serve the quake-hit people were also under consideration, he added.

"The government has already sanctioned Rs90 million as one-time grant for purchase of medicines for health facilities," he said, adding that the government was taking steps to strengthen healthcare system at the district level.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Khalif Bille Mohammed, country representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), underlined the need for strict financial discipline at the district level to make proper use of money allocated for healthcare.

He said the WHO, in collaboration with local authorities, was working to strengthen the capacity of health facilities at the district level. This would help people receive treatment at local hospitals, saving them from the trouble of visiting cities for the purpose, he added.

Mr Bille said the workshop was aimed at imparting planning skills to the district and provincial health teams so as to build their capacity for developing an evidence-based district health master plans for action.

He suggested reviewing the district health plan on a monthly basis.

He said there was a substantial gap between the fund needed to be spent on health and the recourses available.

The WHO official said there was an urgent need to enhance the capacity of the provincial health department for planning and management of the health resources in the quake-affected districts.

He also stressed the need for joint efforts to help people in the quake zone.

Another WHO official, Dr Saeed Akbar Khan, said the objective of the workshop was to brief the government authorities and health partners, including UN agencies, international organisation and NGOs, on the need for active partnership, resource generation and coordination.

On the occasion, all executive district officers (EDOs) of health presented their district health plans.

The health secretary appreciated the efforts of the EDOs to develop these plans through the technical support of the WHO. He said provision of human resource would be ensured by the health department for the quake-hit districts.