PESHAWAR – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has reaffirmed his commitment to improving healthcare delivery across the province, resolving the legitimate issues of doctors, strengthening medical infrastructure in underserved districts and creating a conducive working environment for healthcare professionals.
Addressing the 59th convocation of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) as chief guest, the governor said providing quality medical facilities to disadvantaged communities, improving hospital infrastructure and establishing well-equipped healthcare institutions were among the key priorities.
He stressed that the provincial healthcare system required coordinated and result oriented measures to ensure equitable access to quality treatment, particularly for people living in remote and underdeveloped areas.
The convocation was attended by CPSP President Professor Dr Shoaib Shafi, faculty members, senior doctors, graduating students and their parents. Degrees were awarded to 220 graduates in various medical specialties.
Congratulating the graduates, their parents and teachers, Kundi said Pakistan had several outstanding medical institutions, with CPSP playing a significant role in the development of the country’s healthcare sector and the provision of quality medical services.
The governor said he was fully aware of the challenges confronting the health sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly the difficulties faced by residents of underserved districts in accessing quality medical treatment.He emphasised that addressing these disparities required a coordinated approach involving the government, medical institutions and relevant stakeholders.
He assured the audience that the government would work with all concerned institutions to improve healthcare services and ensure that disadvantaged sections of society were not deprived of essential medical facilities.
Addressing young doctors, Kundi said the medical profession offered extensive opportunities for professional growth but also carried significant responsibilities towards society.He urged young healthcare professionals to serve marginalised communities with dedication, uphold professional ethics and treat patients with compassion to strengthen public trust in the medical profession.
He said the government intended to make effective use of the capabilities of young doctors and invest in their professional development to improve access to quality healthcare across the province.
The governor also underscored the need for effective measures to address the brain drain of qualified doctors, saying efforts would be made to provide better professional opportunities and a conducive working environment within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so that skilled medical professionals could continue serving their own province.
Expressing concern over the lack of adequate attention to doctors’ legitimate grievances in previous periods, Kundi said the government would engage directly with medical professionals to understand their concerns and take steps to resolve them on a priority basis.
He maintained that ensuring job security for doctors and improving working conditions for all healthcare personnel were essential to strengthening the overall healthcare system.
Kundi further emphasised that sustainable improvements in health service delivery required effective coordination among doctors, medical institutions, professional organisations and the government.He said all stakeholders would have to work together to bring tangible improvements to people’s lives.
The governor called for a healthcare system in which no family was deprived of access to quality medical treatment. He stressed that medical services should not remain concentrated in the provincial capital, Peshawar, and urged doctors to extend their services to remote and underdeveloped districts where healthcare needs were particularly acute.
He directed the provincial Health Department to prepare a comprehensive plan for extending quality medical services to people in far flung areas, highlighting the need for practical measures to address geographical disparities in healthcare access.
Kundi said modernising the health sector and ensuring better medical facilities for the public were essential to building a healthier, stronger, peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.
CPSP President Professor Dr Shoaib Shafi and other speakers also addressed the convocation, highlighting the importance of medical education and the role of healthcare professionals in improving health services and meeting the country’s growing medical needs.