He was presiding over a high-level meeting convened to discuss strategy for control of TB in the province at Peshawar on Friday.
GTZ consultant for TB control, Dr Sami Yousaf, Provincial TB Control Programme Manager, Dr Abdul Ghafoor and Chief HSRRU, Dr Mohammad Rafiq attended the meeting.
Briefing the meeting about the efforts being taken for prevention and treatment of TB by the provincial government, the programme manager disclosed that TB drugs worth Rs 21 million had not only been purchased but also provided to all districts of the province already.
Similarly the meeting was told that free treatment facilities for TB patients under DOTS were already existed in 17 districts of NWFP while rest of the seven districts would be extended the same facility before end of the year. "100 percent DOTS coverage will be available in the province by next year", the programme manager maintained.
Highlighting the achievements of the programme, the manager informed that 9,662 TB patients were provided free drugs during the current year while the number would be enhanced to 20 thousands till the end of 2004, he disclosed.
The meeting was further briefed that apart from increasing number of TB diagnostic centres to 200 in the province by the end of this year, two centres of excellence would also be established for the treatment of Multi Drug Resistance patients in NWFP.
The meeting was informed that the provincial TB control programme had not only achieved success in creating awareness, providing treatment facilities and effective monitory but also got appreciation from Federal Ministry of Health for its best performance.
GTZ consultant also highlighted the efforts of the German government for strengthening of TB control programme in NWFP and Fata.
The Health Minister directed for wide publicity of the available free TB treatment facilities so that maximum number of patients could be benefited.
He also underlined the need of co-ordination among various health organisations to combat with disease effectively.
The minister asked for involving religious circles in TB control drive to mobilise the society effectively against the disease.