Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Friday declared a "nursing emergency" in the province and ordered immediate recruitment to fill hundreds of vacant posts across major health facilities.
Chairing a high-level meeting of the health department, the chief minister directed officials to fast-track hiring through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA) and issue an urgent reminder to the Nursing Council to clear 650 pending trained nursing positions.
He said swift hiring, strict oversight, and bold administrative measures were essential to improving service delivery.
Mr Afridi also ordered early completion of recruitment for doctors and specialists, stressing that merit and transparency must be upheld. He called for proactive measures to curb polio, dengue, and malaria, including strict enforcement of the Dengue Action Plan.
He further directed the health department to begin the procurement of medicines and medical equipment from January 1 to prevent delays in supply.
The chief minister instructed the health department to review proposals for new multi-bed hospitals in Peshawar, Kohat, and Malakand, citing increasing pressure on tertiary facilities in the provincial capital. He also ordered the strengthening of the Healthcare Commission to enhance regulatory oversight.
Progress on the Khyber Institute of Child Health was reviewed, with directions to expedite construction to ensure early operationalisation.
Officials briefed the meeting that 182 projects are included in the current Annual Development Programme, with 76 nearing completion. Progress continues on nine flagship initiatives, including:
Significant advancement was also reported on 51 high-priority projects, such as upgrading Hayatabad Medical Complex's emergency and ICU, establishing a nursing college in Upper Chitral, building a paraplegic centre in the merged districts, and strengthening the EPI programme.
The chief minister said that KP's growing population required "swift, practical and realistic strategies" to ensure sustained, quality healthcare delivery across the province.