Pakistan province targets Afghan medical tourists

The aim of a new local medical tourism policy in the province is to attract Afghans in need of medical facilities.

The provincial government seeks to focus more on ‘periphery’ hospitals rather than on tertiary ones, with a health policy that is more people-friendly and district facilitated rather than a centrally focused one.

Based on public demand, the local government will equip the district hospitals. The aim is to reduce the number of patients referred from district hospitals to the provincial capital. It admits that district hospitals lack modern facilities, equipment and medical staff and that the medical burden of the entire province is resting on three hospitals in the provincial capital. The money to pay for this will come from overseas aid agencies, but it is hoped that Afghan medical tourist income will also contribute.