PESHAWAR: In anticipation of the high influx of travellers and potential emergencies during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has placed all public and private hospitals on high alert.
The directive, issued on the specific instructions of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, aims to ensure the seamless provision of healthcare services across the province.
According to a formal notification released by the health department, all medical facilities have been mandated to ensure 24/7, uninterrupted emergency services. The government has underscored that duty rosters for doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff must be strictly enforced, with a categorical ban on officers leaving their duty stations without prior formal permission.
A significant portion of the contingency plan focuses on the province’s popular tourism and transit hubs. “Emergency services must be made more effective in Galiat, Swat, Malakand, Abbottabad, and other high-traffic tourist areas,” the notification stated, acknowledging the surge in visitors typically seen during the festive period.
To support these operations, hospital administrations have been tasked with maintaining surplus stocks of essential medicines, oxygen, and blood.
Ambulance and referral services are required to be fully functional and stationed for immediate deployment. Furthermore, the department has said rigorous adherence to hygiene and infection control protocols to prevent any secondary health crises.
In a move toward modernised oversight, a centralised Emergency Control Room has been established at the Directorate General (DG) Health Services for round-the-clock monitoring.
The Independent Monitoring Unit (IMU) will utilise digital tools and real-time reporting to track staff attendance and service delivery, allowing for immediate corrective measures. Field visits and virtual meetings by senior officials will supplement this digital surveillance.
To facilitate the public, the provincial government has directed that health helplines be activated and prominently advertised.
All healthcare institutions are required to submit daily performance and situational reports to the central control room.
The health department warned that any lapse in compliance or negligence in following these directives would result in strict disciplinary action under the prevailing rules.
