To promote transparency and boost efficiency, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department is set to hold its monthly District Health Officers (DHO) Conference, chaired by Ihtesham Ali, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Health.
The event will bring together prominent officials, including Secretary Health Adeel Shah, Director General Health Dr. Muhammad Saleem, Additional Directors General (ADGs), Regional Directors General (RDGs), all DHOs, and Programme Directors. The primary focus of the conference is to thoroughly assess the performance of DHOs across the province.
Advisor Ihtesham Ali underscored the department’s dedication to accountability and performance-driven governance. He stated, “While past performance has been observed, the future approach will involve strict disciplinary measures against officers with poor outcomes.”
The evaluation process during the conference will cover several key performance indicators, such as vaccination rates, medicine availability, outpatient department (OPD) services, functionality of medical equipment, staff effectiveness, and surprise inspections conducted within their districts.
Ihtesham Ali also emphasized the urgent need for reforms, noting, “Today will reveal who is genuinely committed to their duties and who has been leveraging political influence to retain their position. Poor performance will no longer be accepted.”
He highlighted that meaningful progress in primary healthcare is essential for transforming the broader health system. He called on all officials to strive for better results, warning that decisive actions would be taken against those who fail to meet expectations.
This conference represents a pivotal step in the department’s reform agenda, aimed at improving healthcare services for the public. Ihtesham Ali reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and fostering a performance-based culture in the health sector, ultimately eliminating inefficiencies and delivering high-quality healthcare to the citizens of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
