Balochistan sets new benchmark in healthcare transformation

QUETTA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th May, 2026) The Balochistan government has rolled out an ambitious healthcare reform agenda, introducing landmark projects within just two years to ensure quality medical facilities reach citizens in even the most remote corners of the province. The expansion of healthcare infrastructure and the inauguration of mega projects mark a decisive step toward modernizing medical services and improving public welfare.

Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, reaffirming the government’s commitment under the leadership of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, said the reforms focus on infrastructure upgrades, digital monitoring, and equitable access to medical services. “These projects represent a turning point in Balochistan’s history, modernizing the healthcare system and ensuring that citizens across remote and underserved areas gain access to reliable and advanced medical services,” he stated.

Acting on CM Bugti’s directives, the government has launched a series of transformative projects. Among the flagship initiatives is the Trauma Emergency and Response Institute, a 150-bed modern trauma center on Spini Road in Quetta. Equipped with advanced operating theaters, intensive care units, diagnostic facilities, and emergency wards, the center will provide immediate treatment for victims of road accidents, natural disasters, explosions, and other emergencies. Medical staff are receiving specialized training in collaboration with Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi to ensure services meet international standards.

The province has also introduced the Benazir Ambulance Service, designed to ensure timely hospital transfers for pregnant women, accident victims, and critically ill patients. Complementing this is the People’s Air Ambulance, Pakistan’s first provincial-level government-run air ambulance service. Created by converting an existing aircraft into a fully equipped medical unit, it is fitted with oxygen systems, monitoring devices, and neonatal incubators, offering rapid emergency transfers while reducing costs.

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Another milestone is the opening of the Bacha Khan Memorial Hospital, a 50-bed facility in Quetta dedicated to women and children’s healthcare. In addition, 164 Basic Health Units across Balochistan have been reactivated, many of which had been inactive for years, now staffed with doctors, nurses, and vaccinators to deliver essential healthcare directly to local communities.

The government is also introducing a modern Health Insurance Program for employees, offering cashless treatment at selected hospitals. Immunization programs have been strengthened with the recruitment of hundreds of vaccinators and community workers, supported by mobile vaccination vans and motorcycles to reach distant areas. Highlighting recent progress, officials revealed that routine immunization coverage in the province has increased by 12 percent, reaching 50 percent.

ChildLife emergency services are being expanded to multiple districts, ensuring children receive timely treatment for respiratory distress, accidents, and other critical conditions. A new Health Information and Digitalization Unit has been established to improve transparency and efficiency in healthcare management, including AI-based attendance monitoring and province-wide disease tracking. The People’s Welfare Program will guarantee the continuous supply of essential medicines and equipment in public hospitals, while also introducing AI-based monitoring for maternal health to detect high-risk pregnancies early and ensure timely referrals.

Finally, ten district hospitals will now host specialized centers for diagnosing and treating drug-resistant tuberculosis, sparing patients the need to travel to major cities for care.

Together, these initiatives represent a sweeping transformation of Balochistan’s healthcare system, combining innovation, accessibility, and patient welfare. The projects will not only strengthen emergency response and maternal health but also bring modern medical services closer to communities that have long been underserved.