The doctors' community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday termed that the allocation of Rs 10.33 billion as health budget for next financial year 2012-13 wasn't sufficient to improve the service delivery, demanding to increase it at Rs 20billion to address the growing health and service delivery issues in the province.
The doctors' expressed their concerns over the allocation of health budget during a press conference, aimed to announce a plan for forthcoming election of Provincial Doctor Association (PDA) here at Peshawar Press Club. The doctors' election will be held on June 20th across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Dr Nasir Hassan, while commenting on the announced provincial health budget, the government should increase allocation at Rs 20 billion as sector is being faced enormous health challenges with multiple service delivery issues. He said Rs 10.33 billion was not sufficient to meet various health issues in the province including shortage of medical staff and latest equipment.
While making announcement of new plan for upcoming PDA election, he said that the Insaf Doctors Forum has planned its penal 'Justice Doctors Panel' which will make efforts for the solution of basic issues confronted to the doctors. Dr Nasir Hassan said that his team has submitted nomination papers of ten different slots with PDA election commissioner for scrutiny, saying that elections would be contested among three parties ie United Doctors Forum, Grand Doctor Alliance and Justice Doctors Panels.
Regarding their election manifesto, he said that merit and accountability in health system would be ensured to curb corruption while all efforts would be made for restoration of doctor's dignity and protection of patients' rights, adding that voice for the service structure of all cadres of health employees would also be raised forcefully.