Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar declared senior citizen-friendly

PESHAWAR, October 19, 2026: Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), one of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s largest public hospitals, has been declared senior citizen-friendly following the inauguration of a dedicated facilitation desk to improve healthcare access for older people.

The initiative has been launched in collaboration with Blue Veins and the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) to help senior citizens access hospital services with dignity and promote the implementation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Citizens Act, 2014.

Muhammad Tariq Burki, Director and head of LRH-MTI, inaugurated the facilitation desk in the presence of representatives from NCHR, Blue Veins, the Senior Citizens’ Forum and hospital officials.

LRH is a major tertiary care teaching hospital that serves approximately 4,500 patients daily through more than 26 specialised clinics.

Speaking at the inauguration, Burki said the hospital was committed to providing dignified and accessible healthcare to older patients. He said the dedicated desk would help senior citizens navigate hospital services and receive the assistance they need.

NCHR Provincial Coordinator Rizwan Ullah Khan welcomed the initiative, stressing that non-discriminatory access to healthcare was a fundamental human rights issue. He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to protecting older people’s rights and addressing barriers to essential services.

Naseem Riaz, a member of the Senior Citizens’ Forum facilitated by Blue Veins, appreciated the hospital administration for responding to concerns raised by older people. She said the initiative had turned a demand raised a month earlier into a practical step towards improving services.

Qamar Naseem, Programme Manager at Blue Veins, called for similar facilitation desks at all public hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the Senior Citizens Act provides for special healthcare facilities, including separate counters, concessions on medical and medicine charges, and separate medical wards.

He urged provincial health authorities and other Medical Teaching Institutions to follow LRH’s example, saying senior citizen-friendly healthcare should become standard practice across the province.