KARACHI- Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Centre and PMA Karachi chapter, urged the national health policy makers to devise a comprehensive health policy, enforcing it in all four provinces of Pakistan.
Addressing a joint press conference, Secretary General PMA Centre Dr. SM Qaisar Sajjad, Treasurer PMA Centre Dr. Qazi Muhammad Wasiq, President, PMA Karachi Dr. Khalil Mukaddam and General Secretary PMA Karachi, Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, expressed their concerns over the deterioration of health and education system of Pakistan. They informed that, no national level health policy existed in Pakistan after passing the 18th amendment.
They brought to everyone’s knowledge that, since last five years, less than 1 per cent of total GDP had been spent within our national health system. In order to bring improvement, allocation of at least 6 per cent of the total GDP for healthcare system in Pakistan is required.
Secretary General, PMA Centre, Dr. Qaisar Sajjad expressed his discontent over the fact that, not even a single university of Pakistan stands in the ranking of top 500 universities of the world. The condition of our hospitals and health system is such that, our rulers treated travel abroad to get treated. He added that health and education has never been a priority of our ruling authorities, due to which there is a mushroom growth of private schools and hospitals.
Furthermore, he urged the political parties to include the following health issues in their manifesto like; increased investment on prevention of diseases rather than solely focusing on the curative side, provision of clean water to every citizen of country to prevent waterborne diseases, prevention of mosquito borne diseases, complete elimination of quackery, complete ban on tobacco products, strengthening of national vaccination program, followed by proper implementation, particularly to eradicate polio from our country.
President, PMA Karachi, Dr. Khalil Mukaddam stated that, there is an urgent need of increasing the national health budget as per WHO recommendations, to reduce the suffering of patients in Pakistan.
General Secretary PMA, Karachi Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro added that, no country can progress in the health sector without strengthening their basic health units, rural health centers, taluka hospitals by recruitment of doctors and specialists, nurses, midwives and paramedics on an emergency basis.
Moreover, he added that, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) should be made an independent and autonomous body for regularization of medical education and training in Pakistan.
Treasurer PMA Centre, Dr. Qazi Muhammad Wasiq demanded of the government to exempt doctors, nurses and other medical staff from election duties, as hospitals are required to provide health facilities to the citizens, round the clock, without any political hindrance.