Govt to expand family planning, maternal health Services Through Major Reforms: Economic Survey

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2026) The Government of Punjab has undertaken wide-ranging reforms in family planning, reproductive health, and maternal healthcare services during FY2025-26, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26 unveiled by the Ministry of Finance on Thursday.

The survey noted that following the devolution of the Population Welfare Programme to provinces after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, provincial governments have intensified efforts to improve access to quality Family Planning and Reproductive Health (FP/RH) services. These initiatives aim to stabilize population growth, improve maternal health outcomes, and strengthen community-based healthcare delivery.

In Punjab, a major institutional reform was introduced through the merger of the Population Welfare Department with the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, creating a unified Health and Population Department. The integration is designed to improve coordination in family planning, maternal health, preventive care, and healthcare service delivery under a single administrative framework.

Among the key initiatives highlighted in the survey is the launch and expansion of the Community Health Inspector (CHI) Programme, which was introduced as a pilot project in June 2025 across 130 Union Councils in four districts. The programme initially mobilized 1,648 outreach workers, including 1,136 Lady Health Workers and 512 Community Health Inspectors.

According to the survey, the model has since been expanded across Punjab, with more than 50,000 health workers providing door-to-door healthcare services. These workers are engaged in household registration, maternal and child healthcare, disease screening, tuberculosis tracing, nutrition support, communicable disease surveillance, and family planning services, significantly strengthening preventive healthcare at the community level.

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The Economic Survey further revealed that Punjab has transformed several underperforming Rural Health Centres into Maryam Nawaz Hospitals under a performance-based management model. The revamped facilities now provide a broader range of services, including outpatient and inpatient treatment, emergency care, maternal and child health services, diagnostic facilities, surgical procedures, and specialist consultations closer to rural communities.

Another major initiative involves the conversion of Regional Training Institutes into Schools of Nursing and Midwifery to strengthen the province's healthcare workforce. The first academic session commenced on March 10, 2026, with 308 students enrolled in BS Nursing and BS Midwifery programmes across Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Sahiwal.

The survey stated that the initiative is expected to produce more than 400 skilled birth attendants annually, helping address shortages in maternal and newborn healthcare services. Additionally, around 50 midwifery schools are being established at district and tehsil levels to expand the availability of trained maternal healthcare and outreach workers throughout the province.

The Ministry of Finance said these reforms are expected to improve access to reproductive health services, enhance family planning coverage, and contribute to better maternal and child health indicators across Punjab.