PESHAWAR, Aug 21: The NWFP Health Department has decided to establish homoeopathy and Tibb-i-Islami dispensaries in every district headquarter hospital of the province.

A meeting, held here on Saturday, was told that rules for setting up of the alternative medicine centres had been sent for vetting to the law department.

The meeting was presided over by Health Minister Inayatullah and attend among others by Health Secretary Dr Ihsanul Haq and Health Director-General Dr Jalilur Rehman.

The minister said that the law department has given approval to the rules, which would then be sent to the chief minister for final approval.

Talking to Dawn, he said: "An amount of Rs37.54million has been allocated for a three-year projected period in the annual development programme. The performance and utility of these outlets would be monitored and evaluated on yearly basis."

He said a homoeopath and a Tabib would be appointed in the BPS-16 in each of the 24 districts, supported by a dispenser and a ward orderly.

He said initially the dispensaries would be set up as part of a pilot project and later they would form part of a permanent department. It would also create opportunities for homoeopathy doctors, Hakims and other auxiliary staff on regular basis.

The minister said that the concept of alternative medicines was gaining currency throughout the world and the World Health Organization had also accepted its importance.

The WHO, he said, had been asking member countries to introduce alternative medicines to expand their health delivery network.

The minister said that a special cell would be created at the office of the director-general of the health services and two assistant directors - one each for homoeopathy and Tibb - would be appointed in the BPS-17, who would monitor and evaluate the functioning of the outlets.