K-P releases Rs440m to settle IHP salaries
PESHAWAR:
On the directives of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Advisor Ehtesham Ali, Rs440 million has been released to clear three months' pending salaries of over 4,500 employees of the Integrated Health Program (IHP).
In his statement, the Health Advisor assured that all employees would receive their salaries before Ramazan.
He instructed the relevant authorities to ensure timely transfers of payments to employees' accounts without delay.
Emphasizing the need for reforms to streamline project operations, he stated that no employee's salary would be withheld.
"There is no place in my team for those who cannot deliver," he asserted. Expressing concern over frequent salary delays and protests for project extensions, Ehtesham Ali directed officials to begin preparations for the upcoming budget immediately.
He urged consultations with stakeholders to ensure efficient financial planning and prevent such disruptions in the future.
The advisor further stated that the next Annual Development Program (ADP) would include only those schemes that enhance service delivery and benefit the public, rather than launching unnecessary new projects.
Background
In December 2024, The Express Tribune reported that IHP, jointly managed by the Lady Health Workers (LHWs) program and the nutrition initiative, faces severe financial constraints, hindering its effectiveness.
Official sources said that both programs have fallen short of their targets due to insufficient funding.
Approximately 4,000 IHP employees have gone without salaries for the past five months, receiving payment only once during this period, according to a health department official.
Introduced in 2014 across all four provinces, the IHP underwent challenges after the 18th amendment, requiring individual provinces to create their PC-1 plans.
The previous government's Rs7.5 billion PC-1, developed by consultants from Punjab without a baseline survey, displayed numerous shortcomings, including the delayed recruitment of Lady Health Workers and trained community midwives over four years.
Despite completing their two-year training, these midwives remain unutilized, incurring significant costs to the health department, supported by international donor organizations. Additionally, LHWs and CMWs lack access to government-provided medicines.
The IHP's primary goal is to reduce maternal deaths during childbirth from 165 per 1,000 to 40. Stabilization centers face similar challenges, with no available food supplements despite the declared nutrition emergency in the province. Only Unicef is currently providing food supplements to select districts, while the government struggles to recruit nutrition specialists and purchase food supplements due to financial constraints.
Targets for underweight childbirths have been substantially missed, raising concerns about the project's overall efficacy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro may lower oral contraceptive effectiveness., UK's MHRA warns
Listen to article The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued an alert urging women using weight-loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro to use effective contraception after receiving multiple reports of pregnancies among users, The Guardian reported on June 5, 2025. The alert follows 40 reports of pregnancy in women taking these weight-loss drugs, prompting the MHRA to warn that Mounjaro, in particular, may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. The agency advises that women taking this drug use barrier contraception, such as condoms, in addition to oral contraceptives, according to The Guardian. The MHRA received 26 pregnancy-related reports concerning Mounjaro and an additional eight reports linked to semaglutide-based drugs (Ozempic and Wegovy). Another weight-loss medication, Saxenda, which contains liraglutide, also garnered nine reports. Read more: Ozempic shows promise in reversing liver disease, research finds While it's unclear whether the pregnancies were unintended, some women confirmed their pregnancies were unplanned, as reported by The Guardian. The MHRA has emphasised that these medications should not be used during pregnancy or while trying to conceive due to insufficient safety data regarding potential harm to a developing baby. Women taking these drugs are also advised to continue contraception for up to two months after stopping the medication before attempting to become pregnant, as noted by the health agency. Also read: Popular weight loss drug Ozempic linked to higher risk of blindness Dr. Channa Jayasena, a consultant in reproductive endocrinology, noted that GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are effective in aiding weight loss but could increase fertility in women with obesity by enhancing fertility. However, these drugs may also interfere with the absorption of oral contraceptives, potentially increasing the risk of unintended pregnancies. This was also highlighted in The Guardian's coverage. Read: Ozempic-fueled weight loss takes over Oscars 2025 as Hollywood's size zero trend returns Dr. Alison Cave, the MHRA's chief safety officer, urged patients not to misuse these medications for weight loss, stressing that they are licensed for specific medical conditions and not for cosmetic purposes. She further recommended that patients read the provided patient information leaflets and consult healthcare professionals before using these powerful treatments, as reported in The Guardian.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
Substandard hospital mats seized in Swat
The announcement was made by Professor Syed Mohammad Sultan of the Khyber Teaching Hospital's Psychiatry Department. PHOTO: EXPRESS Anti-Corruption authorities in Swat have taken swift action against a contractor for supplying substandard foam mats to Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, Saidu Sharif. A total of 180 non-compliant mats were confiscated on-site for failing to meet approved PC-1 specifications. The crackdown followed a citizen complaint filed by Arbab Naveed with the Directorate of Anti-Corruption Establishment, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The contractor was accused of violating procurement rules by delivering poor-quality mats from unauthorized manufacturers. An investigation led by Assistant Director Anti-Corruption Malakand Division, Malik Khan Afsar Khan, confirmed the allegations. The contractor was found guilty of deliberate non-compliance. Authorities gave the contractor one week to replace the substandard items with 320 mats that meet official standards. The directive was fulfilled within the deadline, and the case has now been referred to the Directorate for further legal proceedings.
Business Recorder
30-05-2025
- Business Recorder
Free insulin to 250 children: Getz Pharma, NGO sign MoU
ISLAMABAD: In a bid to provide free insulin to children and young people with Type-1-Diabetes (T1D) Getz Pharma and a local non-profit organization (NGO) namely, Meethi Zindagi have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide free insulin to 250 children across the country for the rest of their lives. The MoU signing ceremony held here on Thursday, attended by senior officials from both organisations, children with T1D, and their parents. The event featured engaging activities such as face painting and storytelling, where children bravely shared their journeys of living with diabetes. Getz Pharma is Pakistan's largest local pharmaceutical firm and the only company producing insulin locally. The MoU outlines that Getz Pharma will supply insulin on a quarterly basis, based on dose requirements provided by Meethi Zindagi. The non-profit will manage the identification of beneficiaries, ensure safe storage and distribution of the insulin, and provide quarterly reports on usage and outcomes. The participants were informed that during past 20 years over 18,000 children and young people have died due to complications of Type 1 Diabetes largely from lack of access to insulin. 'There are around 26,000 children and young people living with Type 1 Diabetes in Pakistan, but only about 8,000 receive free insulin,' said Dr Sana Ajmal, founder and executive director of Meethi Zindagi. 'With Getz Pharma's support, we are expanding our reach to 1,550 children—across more than 130 cities from Tharparkar to Dera Bugti—by including 250 more in our program,' she added. Dr Sana, herself a T1D patient, launched Meethi Zindagi in 2017 to help families like hers who struggled to afford insulin. Besides free insulin, the non-profit also provides peer support, medical consultations, and psychological help. 'Insulin is a right, not a privilege,' she emphasised. 'It should be available at the doorstep of every child who needs it.' Dr Wajiha Javed, associate director Public Health at Getz Pharma, said the partnership reflects the company's belief in both quality medicines and sustainable health advocacy. 'It is unacceptable that 18,000 children have died simply because they couldn't access insulin,' she said. 'Our commitment goes beyond supply we will also help create peer support networks, launch awareness campaigns for early diagnosis, and support nutritional programmes.' Highlighting Getz Pharma's unique position as the only local manufacturer of insulin in Pakistan, Dr Wajiha assured that the company would not let geographical barriers hinder its mission. 'This collaboration is a first step. We want to ensure that no child is denied a future simply because they can't afford a vial of insulin.' She maintained that during insulin shortages and crises, Getz Pharma ensured an uninterrupted supply by producing insulin locally and delivering it even to remote areas such as Parachinar. It supported thousands of patients and extended critical assistance to institutions like the Children's Hospital and the National Institute of Child Health when others stepped back. In addition to providing insulin, Getz Pharma is driving a broader, patient-focused effort to transform diabetes care in Pakistan. The company actively invests in research, runs public awareness campaigns, conducts community screenings, and supports early diagnosis initiatives. 'With a separate field force deployed nationwide to educate patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers, we ensure better disease management. This holistic approach reflects Getz Pharma's long-term commitment to addressing the root challenges of diabetes care, far beyond the supply of medicine alone', she added. Beyond insulin access, Getz Pharma empowers children with diabetes through education, nutrition support, and school-based programmes, helping them manage their condition and build healthier, informed futures, she added. As the event closed, there was a sense of hope in the air—a hope that with such powerful partnerships, Pakistan can move closer to a future where no child dies from a disease that is entirely manageable with timely access to insulin. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
