Right to Health and Current Scenario (Part 2)
The recent legislation by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, named Regional and District Health Authority Act, faced opposition by doctors and hospital staff. The resultant strike by the doctors concluded after dialogue between the authorities and protesters.
In the recent episode of Jarga Maraka (Debate and Council), a detailed discussion was carried out on behalf of the provincial government and the issues were analyzed by a senior journalist, Mr. Lihaz Ali.
Mr. Ali explained that health facilities in KP comprise of Basic Health Units (BHUs), Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI), Category D Hospitals, District Headquarter Hospitals, Tehsil Hospitals and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). He added that doctors in government hospitals are public servants and they are paid from taxpayers’ money. While talking about the recent strikes, he added that private clinics of the same doctors were operational which shows that the strike did not affect their income but only the common public suffered. He elaborated that the government wanted to reform the health sector urgently. In the 46-day strike, more than 300,000 people suffered due to the absence of outpatient clinics. Although the government has prioritized health, 86% of the fund is spent in five districts only whereas other districts are deprived of it.
The report by Inam Ullah Khan shared details of the strike.
About Sabawoon:
Sabawoon airs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) since 2011. It began as a counter-radicalization, strategic communications programme, designed to highlight and promote the fundamental governance values such as democracy, rule of law, women’s rights, and equal citizenry, social cohesion. The show airs Tuesday through Thursday every week under four themes on FM-101.5 Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan 711 kHz from 3:20 PM to 4:00 PM.
On Tuesday, Jarga Maraka covers current affairs and important regional issues with input from government and other senior officials. Jwandai Jazbey airs on Wednesday and deals with issues of relevance to, and significance for, youth, and students. Socio-cultural affairs and issues of women are discussed in Ranra on Thursday.