The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has shown concern over the government's low quality health services and meager expenditure on public health in Pakistan.
A senior executive of ADB Axel Weber said on Thursday that public health in Pakistan was theoretically very fine but still the people pay for drugs, examination and health services. Besides health, livestock insurance should also be ensured, which always remained a problem in developing countries, he added.
The provision of social protection (which always remained the duty of the government, he said), if not properly taken care of, might reverse the poverty reduction efforts.
According to him, health insurance would help in preventing poverty and health shocks from health incidents.
In Pakistan, the poor can apply for Zakat fund or to Bait-ul-Mal for subsidy but only a few are eligible. The government should directly intervene by increasing its expenditure on the sector to provide the poor a cushion in bearing health expenses.
He said that public servants, among whom there were many low wage earners, are paying for health care, which further disturbs their social life.
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