PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government rolled out on Monday the province's first online treatment facility, E-Ilaj, aiming to dispense specialised healthcare services in far-flung areas.



The pilot project, launched in the Bilahi area of district Mansehra in collaboration with the K-P Information Technology Board, aims to lessen the burden on tertiary care hospitals.



According to health minister Shahram Khan Tarakai, the project will be expanded to other districts in the near future.



Officials privy to the development said the project has been launched as government was unable to post specialised doctors at every Basic Health Unit across the province.



Residents had to travel from hilly areas to cities in search of health care facilities, Tarakai added.



Health officials say specialised doctors will be connected to these centers via high speed internet connectivity as well as staff being deputed at centers directly connecting patients to doctors sitting in Peshawar.



“This center will offer services for patients with cardiac problems, mother and child health, skin and ENT besides other issues on the spot where five specialised doctors will be offer services under one roof,” Tarakai informed.



Doctors, he added, would be available from 9am to 2pm.



"There is a dire need for health care services in far-flung areas and it does not make sense for residents having to travel all the way to Mansehra to do so," he said.



"Once the project achieves its goals in this area, it will be expanded further to other parts of the province as well," the health minister added.



The center is equipped with diagnostic laboratory as well as electrocardiogram (ECG) for patients with cardiac problems.



Managing Director KPITB Dr Shahbaz Khan said the board would continue to act as a catalyst in digital transformation of K-P, making the province standout as a role model in E-Governance.