Children Hospital Mardan Remains Incomplete 13 Years After Approval
Thirteen years after approval, Children Hospital Mardan remains incomplete. The 200-bed hospital, approved in 2011, was planned on the premises of Mardan Medical Complex (MMC).
Only the outpatient department is operational. The main hospital building, meant for specialized pediatric care, is still unfinished due to funding gaps.
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Health officials report overcrowding in the existing pediatric facilities, with three to four children sometimes sharing a single bed. Limited supplies of supplemental oxygen force pediatricians to improvise with three-way nasal prongs to save lives. The current MMC setup, which includes a 50-bed children’s ward and a 45-bed nursery, is operating well beyond its capacity.
Importance of Completing Children Hospital Mardan
Children Hospital Mardan is not just a local facility—it is intended to serve nearly one million children in Mardan, the second most populous district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and neighboring areas including Charsadda, Malakand, Dir, Bajaur, and Nowshera. Health administrators stress that a fully operational hospital is no longer a luxury but a critical necessity for the region.
The hospital’s infrastructure is largely in place on paper. Civil construction of three floors has been completed, along with heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. The four-story building features five lifts, a central heating and cooling plant, and a large basement offering parking for around 100 vehicles. The hospital’s planned facilities include five operating theatres, a nursery, day-care services, and a thalassemia center.
Once completed, the hospital is expected to host approximately 20 pediatric sub-specialties. However, to operate fully, it will require around Rs. 420 million annually and a workforce of 1,125 staff members. A formal requisition for these funds and positions has been sent to the provincial government, but progress has been slow, and completion dates continue to drift.
The delay at Children Hospital Mardan also affects hospitals in Peshawar, which currently bear the burden of pediatric cases from the region. Lady Reading Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex, and Khyber Teaching Hospital consistently report overcrowded pediatric wards, highlighting the urgent need for a fully functional children’s hospital in Mardan.
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Local healthcare officials argue that completing and activating Mardan pediatric hospital would not only improve care for children in the district but also ease pressure on larger facilities in Peshawar. Advanced pediatric services, such as specialized surgeries, intensive care, and thalassemia management, are in high demand but currently scarce in KP outside the provincial capital.
The prolonged delay has left families frustrated, as parents often travel long distances to seek care for sick children. Doctors emphasize that winter months are particularly challenging, with the current facilities unable to cope with rising patient numbers. Overcrowding, limited equipment, and staff shortages compromise patient safety and treatment quality.
Completion of Children Hospital Mardan would transform pediatric healthcare in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. With modern infrastructure, specialized staff, and sufficient funding, the hospital could deliver comprehensive care, reduce mortality rates, and provide a central hub for children’s health in the region.
For now, health administrators continue to appeal to the provincial government for funding and staffing approvals, stressing that the project is no longer optional—it is an urgent necessity. The hospital represents hope for nearly one million children who currently lack access to advanced pediatric care within their own districts.
