Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi has declared a “nursing emergency” and ordered immediate hiring to fill hundreds of vacancies in major hospitals. During a high-level health department meeting, he instructed officials to fast-track recruitment through ETEA and urged the Nursing Council to clear 650 pending nursing positions.
He emphasized quick hiring, strong monitoring, and firm administrative steps to improve healthcare services. Afridi also pushed for early recruitment of doctors and specialists, strict implementation of dengue and polio control measures, and timely procurement of medicines and equipment starting January 1.
The chief minister called for reviewing plans for new hospitals in Peshawar, Kohat, and Malakand due to rising patient load, and directed the strengthening of the Healthcare Commission. Progress on the Khyber Institute of Child Health was assessed, with orders to accelerate construction.
Officials reported that 182 projects are part of the current development plan, with 76 nearly complete. Updates were shared on major initiatives including a burns centre in Dera Ismail Khan, new labs, upgrades at DHQ Mardan, Kohat Institute of Medical Sciences, and improvements to Hayatabad Medical Complex, along with expanded nursing and EPI facilities.
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