The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa directly intervened over a severe shortage of beds in the children’s intensive care unit of Lady Reading Hospital, taking immediate action after a complaint regarding a critically ill child gained attention on social media.
The provincial head personally visited the emergency children’s ward of Lady Reading Hospital on Wednesday to investigate the matter, where he met with the family of the young patient for a complete inquiry.
The medical staff informed the Chief Minister that the child could not be admitted to the pediatric ICU due to a lack of available beds. They advised that a transfer to Khyber Teaching Hospital was necessary for the child’s care, where space was available.
In response, the Chief Minister issued instructions to immediately provide an ambulance to ensure the patient’s timely and safe transfer to another medical facility.
Addressing the system’s shortcomings, he ordered the provision of new beds for the ICU, the immediate establishment of prefabricated extension rooms, and an increase in the ward’s capacity on an emergency basis. He further outlined a new policy that if beds are not available in government hospitals, patients will be treated in private institutions at the government’s expense.
The Chief Minister also directed the relevant authorities to take immediate steps to make the central hospital system more efficient for checking bed availability. Further directives included the restructuring of the primary health system and addressing the shortage of rooms in the doctors’ hostel.
During his visit, the provincial leader also listened to and resolved the issues of other patients on the spot. He reiterated that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government stands with the doctors and teachers community, and said that their welfare is a government priority.
The original complainant expressed gratitude for the prompt response, acknowledging that the Chief Minister’s timely arrival at the hospital following the social media post led to a resolution for the child’s critical situation.