The recent recruitment drive by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department to fill 2,439 posts for Medical Officers, Dental Surgeons, and Nurses has drawn sharp criticism for omitting Pharmacists, a move local healthcare advocates warn could endanger public health.
Saqib Hussain, a young pharmacist, described the exclusion as a serious oversight and urged authorities to rectify the gap immediately. He noted that although the province approved its first Pharmacy Services Policy in October 2025, little has been done to put it into practice and integrate pharmacists into hospitals and primary healthcare centres.
Hussain warned that the absence of Pharmacists undermines key systems that protect patients, including rational use of medicines, medication error reporting, and robust pharmacovigilance. Without properly staffed pharmacy services, he said, problems such as drug misuse, rising antibiotic resistance, and uncontrolled medication practices are likely to worsen in KP communities.
The call for action stresses that Pharmacists are essential for safe and effective medication therapy and for supporting clinical teams across public health facilities. Hussain urged the Health Department to include Pharmacists in its recruitment plans and to implement the Pharmacy Services Policy without delay to close gaps in medication safety and oversight.
Local health stakeholders say prompt integration of pharmacists into the healthcare workforce is a practical step to improve patient safety, curb antibiotic resistance, and strengthen medication management across the province. They are pressing the government to act now to prevent further risks to public health in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
