PESHAWAR, July 13: The provincial government is preparing a plan to make the under-utilized basic health units functional with public-private partnership, NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah said on Tuesday.

He was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of a two-day seminar on 'Chitral primary health care programme' organized by the health sector research and reform unit (HSRRU), the Aga Khan Foundation and the Department for International Development.

The minister said the government was encouraging the participation of the private sector in provision of health services. He said the government had decided to activate the health foundation which "would extend loan facilities to the private sector for improvement of health services through public-private partnership."

He said hospitals of international standard were being established in each district. He said the HSRRU was preparing a package for hiring technical personnel in remote areas of the province.

He said improvement of the healthcare system was not possible without focussing on primary health care and preventive measures. He said non-government organizations and donor agencies would be provided a conducive environment for conducting their activities.