Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Outsources Hospital Diagnostics Under PPP

Expanding Access to Modern Diagnostics in KP

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has taken a bold step to improve healthcare delivery by outsourcing diagnostic services in public hospitals under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This initiative follows earlier outsourcing of hospital management services and is designed to ensure uninterrupted access to modern diagnostic facilities.

Initially, six hospitals have been selected for the installation of MRI and CT scanners. District Headquarters Hospitals in Kohat, Swat, Batkhela, and Malakand will receive both MRI and CT machines. Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Takht Bhai in Mardan and Category-D Hospital Garh Tajak in Peshawar will be equipped with CT scanners, while DHQ Timergara will receive an MRI machine along with a scanner.

Provincial Health Minister Khaliqur Rehman explained that procuring such expensive machines for multiple hospitals was not feasible through traditional means, making PPP the most viable option. The collaboration with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Foundation ensures that partner organizations will handle machine maintenance and service delivery, reducing delays caused by complex procurement procedures.

The reform is expected to reduce patient referrals to Peshawar’s tertiary hospitals, where overcrowding and long waiting times for diagnostic tests have caused distress for families. By decentralizing diagnostic services, patients in district hospitals will gain quicker access to imaging, improving medical decision-making and reducing out-of-pocket expenses.

So far, the Health Foundation has outsourced 24 hospitals, mostly in merged districts, where service improvements have already been observed. Looking ahead, the Health Department has prepared a list of 72 additional hospitals to be handed over under the PPP model, with monitoring systems being strengthened to ensure accountability.

This initiative reflects the government’s broader agenda of healthcare modernization and equity, aiming to bring advanced diagnostic services closer to underserved communities. By leveraging private sector collaboration, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is setting a precedent for sustainable healthcare reforms in Pakistan.