PESHAWAR, April 7: The NWFP government has decided to establish alternative medicine centres by setting up homoeopathic and Tib dispensaries in all the 24 districts of the province. “The step has been taken in view of the fact that 70 per cent of the people seek treatment from homoeopaths and hakims in the country,” said Hakim Abdul Waheed, president of the NWFP chapter of Pakistan Tibbi Conference while addressing a news conference here on Thursday.
He said the homoeopathic and Tibb-i-Islami dispensaries would start functioning in three months. “The government has allocated Rs37.5 million for a three-year project in the annual development programme,” he added.
The performance and usefulness of these outlets would be monitored constantly and evaluated on a yearly basis, he said, adding that a Tabib and Homoeopath would be appointed in BPS-16 in each of the
24 districts, who would be
supported by one dispenser and a ward orderly.
According to him, initially the dispensaries would be set up as part of a pilot project. If things go right, it will form part of a permanent department, resulting in the induction of more Homoeopathic doctors, Hakims and other staff on a regular basis.
He said the concept of alternative medicines was gaining currency throughout the world and the World Health Organisation had also accepted its importance. The WHO, he said, had been asking member countries to introduce alternative medicines to expand their health delivery network.
Mr Waheed said arrangements had been made to create a special cell in the office of NWFP director-general health services, adding that two
assistant directors — one each
for Homoeopathic and Tib
— would be appointed in
BPS-17 who would monitor and evaluate the functioning of these outlets.
A committee has been working under the DG health services to sort out modalities about the implementation of the project. The government is also planning to establish more colleges for homoeopathy and Tib in the province, he said. This would encourage the homoeopaths and Tabibs and more youngsters would seek admission to the colleges.
According to him, alternative way of medicines was cheaper and therefore affordable for the common people.
To make the private practice of homoeopaths and Tabibs more effective, the newly-established Health Regulatory Authority has been tasked to register all the outlets in the private sector.
The clinics registered with the Pakistan Tib Council and Homoeopathic Council would be allowed to operate and the unauthorized one would be closed, he said, asking all the homeopaths and Tabibs to get themselves registered.
President of the Islamic Homoeopathic Medical Association Dr Samiullah Jan was also present at the press conference.