KP Public Hospitals Face Severe Shortage of Medicines, Doctors, and Cleanliness

Public hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are grappling with a severe healthcare crisis, as a recent report uncovers alarming gaps in medicine availability, doctor attendance, and hygiene standards.

According to the findings, only 45% of hospitals have 174 priority medicines in stock, while 41% provide basic medicines. Shockingly, just one hospital met the benchmark of having 80% of essential drugs available.

Out of 60 vital medical devices, only 84% were functional, and merely 3 hospitals had 90% working equipment. In May 2025 alone, 390 doctors were unavailable, of whom 228 were officially absent from duty.

The report further highlights that no hospital met the 90% hygiene standard, and in 12 District Headquarters (DHQ) hospitals, cleanliness levels actually dropped compared to the previous month. Only 81% of hospital toilets are in working condition, with 8 hospitals falling below the 90% threshold.

The provincial government allocated Rs 1.19 billion, releasing Rs 1.21 billion, but some hospitals—particularly DHQ Mardan and Haripur—used 138% to 178% of their allocated funds, raising concerns about uneven and excessive budget utilization.