Telemedicine Service Planned For Prisoners In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - UrduPoint
Pakistan Today
PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Sep, 2026)
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has initiated a project to introduce telemedicine services within its prisons, aiming to provide prisoners with timely, quality, and modern healthcare facilities. This initiative is led by Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs, Tariq Saeed Marwat, and Special Assistant for Prisons, Iftikharullah.
How will it work?
Under this project, prisoners can consult with specialist doctors and medical experts via modern technology, eliminating the need for frequent hospital visits. The telemedicine service will operate under a Hub-and-Spoke Model, with:
- Peshawar's Police Services Hospital serving as the central hub.
- Prisons in Peshawar, Mardan, and Haripur acting as initial pilot spokes.
Initial Service Offerings:
Telemedicine will initially provide healthcare through three methods:
- Live Video Consultations: Real-time communication with doctors.
- Store-and-Forward Services: Sending patient records for review by specialists.
- Remote Patient Monitoring: Tracking vital signs and health data remotely.
Specialist consultations will initially be available in eight areas:
- Medicine
- Psychiatry/Clinical Psychology
- Gynecology
- Cardiology
- Ophthalmology
- ENT
- Radiology
- Dermatology
Benefits of Telemedicine:
This initiative aims to:
- Improve access to specialist care for prisoners.
- Reduce the need for transporting prisoners to hospitals.
- Minimize security risks associated with prisoner transfers.
- Ease the burden on public-sector hospitals.
Implementation:
The Prisons and Health Departments are working together to:
- Issue relevant notifications.
- Form technical and procurement committees.
- Purchase necessary equipment.
- Deploy technical staff.
Quotes:
- Special Assistant for Home and Tribal Affairs, Tariq Saeed Marwat, emphasized the provincial government's commitment to modernizing prison healthcare, rehabilitation, and welfare facilities.
- Special Assistant for Prisons, Iftikharullah, highlighted that this initiative leverages technology to enhance medical services within prisons, making them more effective, accessible, and timely while strengthening collaboration between the Prisons and health departments.