Key measures include establishing separate registration desks, rooms and bathrooms.
In a historic step towards more inclusive healthcare, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has introduced the Transgender and Intersex Persons Protection and Wellbeing Policy 2025, laying the foundation for major reforms across the province’s public health system.
This policy marks an important step forward in ensuring that transgender and intersex people receive the care, respect and dignity they deserve.
The newly launched policy, approved and distributed by the Health Sector Reform Unit (HSRU), emphasizes creating a healthcare environment where each individual is treated fairly, without discrimination.
It is now in force and all health-related officials in KP, including district health officers and medical superintendents of DHQ hospitals, are expected to follow the set guidelines.
The policy introduces several key provisions that aim to make healthcare more accessible and respectful for transgender and intersex people. Among the first changes to be implemented at all health centers are separate registration desks, rooms and bathrooms.
These changes are designed to provide people with privacy and comfort during their visits to hospitals and clinics, addressing long-standing issues facing this community.
Perhaps most importantly, the policy ensures non-discriminatory service charges, meaning transgender and intersex people will no longer face additional financial burdens when seeking medical care.
It also highlights the need for respectful treatment of all patients, and urges healthcare providers to treat all people with dignity.
In addition to these structural changes, the policy requires regular compliance reporting, which will allow health officials to monitor progress and make necessary improvements.
Health Secretary Shahidullah Khan called the policy a “progressive change” in the province’s approach to health care, aligning KP with broader human rights commitments. Their vision is clear: to eliminate systemic discrimination and ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to access to quality healthcare services.
