KP allocates Rs274bn to health, expands Sehat Sahulat coverage

April 3, 2026 (MLN): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has significantly ramped up its investment in healthcare, allocating Rs274 billion for the current fiscal year, a sharp increase from Rs30.3bn in 2013.

Highlighting the province’s progress in health reforms, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information, Shafi Jan, along with Provincial Health Minister Khaliq-ur-Rehman, briefed the media on Friday.

Shafi Jan emphasized that healthcare remains a top priority for the provincial government, with practical measures being implemented to enhance service delivery across KP.

A key highlight is the Sehat Sahulat Programme, which now provides coverage to the entire provincial population. Between January and November 2025, over 1.08 million patients received treatment under the initiative, with an expenditure of Rs31.6bn, according to APP.

Breaking down the figures, 64% of patients received care in public hospitals, while 31% availed private healthcare services, signaling growing public confidence in government facilities.

The government is also facilitating high-cost, complex procedures, including 35 liver transplants (Rs190m), 117 kidney transplants (Rs194m), and 175 cochlear implant surgeries (Rs440m).

To strengthen local healthcare infrastructure, 200 Basic Health Units (BHUs) and 50 Rural Health Centres (RHCs) are being upgraded into BEmONC centres to provide maternal and emergency care. In addition, 89 flood-damaged health facilities are currently under rehabilitation.

Addressing staff shortages, the government has recruited 432 doctors and specialists and is actively hiring 1,425 medical officers, 250 dental surgeons, and 764 nurses.

Over 22,000 new positions have been created in the health sector, raising the number of medical officers from 2,520 to 6,531.

Shafi Jan also highlighted governance reforms, noting that a roadmap with 48 key initiatives has been developed, with 141 sub-actions already completed.

Digital records for over 91,000 employees have been compiled, and modern systems including e-filing, biometric attendance, and medicine ordering portals have been introduced to enhance transparency and efficiency.

“The provincial government remains committed to strengthening KP’s healthcare system to ensure quality, timely, and accessible medical services for all citizens,” Shafi Jan concluded.

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