Establishment of specialized facility for chronic diseases: PHC directs federal, provincial govts to take concrete steps

Humayun Khan

PESHAWAR: The divisional bench comprising of Chief Justice Peshawar High Court Justice Qaiser Rashid and Justice Ijaz Anwar directed provincial and federal governments to take concrete steps for establishment of specialized hospital for patients of Thalassemia and other chronic diseases and directed to submit report on next hearing, on Thursday.
The PHC had already called report from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on petition of minor Muhammad Ali.
During hearing the counsel for petitioner Taif Khan Advocate, Abid Ali Advocate, Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shumail Ahmad Butt, Federal Additional Secretary Health and Additional Attorney General Amir Javeed appeared before court.
Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shumail Ahmad Butt informed PHC that he had arranged meeting with Chief Minister and Minister for Health in this regard and government is planning to establish specialized hospital for patients of Thalassemia and other chronic diseases in the provinces. He added that burn center was also constructed by honorable court’s orders.
Federal Additional Secretary Health argued on inquiring by court regarding the issue that it is provincial subject and its necessary for province to take step in this regard.
Chief Justice Qaiser remarked that are they not your citizen, added that federation will provide facilities only to the residents of Islamabad and inquired regarding any specialized facility for chronic available at capital that children can approach?
PHC directed Additional Attorney General to uphold the issue with federal government and informed that the specialized hospital is necessary for chronic diseases and adjourned further hearing till date fix.