Introduction of 'Open Staff Policy' is a must for not only providing quality treatment facilities to people of the country but also bringing visible change in our healthcare delivery system.
This observation was made by former Chief Executive Multan Institute of Cardiology and Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Professor Dr Naeem Tareen while exclusively talking to Business Recorder, here on Tuesday.
Professor Tareen maintained that under proposed 'Open Staff Policy', medical specialists and technical staff would have a choice to work in any government sector hospital to serve the ailing humanity. "One of the major problems confronted to us is that we used to import latest machinery from abroad but due to lack of trained technicians, either machinery turned outdated or rendered useless. Likewise, when any senior medical professional come from abroad to serve the countrymen he/she had to face discrimination and bureaucratic hurdles which resulted in utter disappointment from them," he said.
With the introduction of proposed 'Open Staff Policy', trained doctors and technicians would have a choice to serve in any health institution of their liking where they would be able to work without any bureaucratic hurdles, he said. He was of the view that fruits of reforms taken by Chief Minister Punjab in health sector are not reaching to the people due to bureaucratic hurdles.
Professor Dr Naeem Tareen, who is fellow American College of Cardiology Board certified in Cardiology, claimed that there is not a single Cardiologist serving in government hospital, who is certified by the American Board. Had there was any American Board certified Cardiologist in government hospitals or PIC, one of the important personalities of the province needs not to undergo treatment from private sector hospital, he posed a question.
About surge in cardiovascular diseases in the country, he said that heart diseases have increased in Pakistan at an alarming ratio due to unhealthy lifestyle, smoking, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, lack of exercise and obesity.
'The recent studies have shown that every fourth person who has suffered heart attack in Pakistan is below 40 years of age, which is very disturbing. If awareness campaign is not launched at mass level, there is strong apprehension that the cardiac diseases may also hit the teenagers, mainly on account of excessive use of Internet and taking high cholesterol diets', he feared.
Elaborating Professor Dr Naeem Tareen said most of the heart diseases, including Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) which is the most common form of cardiac disease, are preventable provided a clear approach about healthy lifestyle is adopted and implemented by people. CAD is responsible for millions of deaths world-wide every year, and out of these, majority of deaths occur in developing countries, which are high-risk countries as for as cardiovascular disease is concerned, he said.
"Narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the heart causes Coronary Artery Disease. This narrowing is caused by the deposition of cholesterol rich material in the blood vessels. However, formation of a clot on top of these blockages leads to heart attack and 50 percent of those who suffer heart attack on this account do not survive," he said.
To a question, he said that usually men are more prone to heart diseases as compared to women. However, women facing lack of haemoglobin may face heart attack if treatment is not provided.
Talking about hypertension, he said it affects one in three individuals over the age of 45 years, and it is one of the main causes of heart diseases as well as stroke in Pakistan.
"Only 3 percent of the hypertensive population in Pakistan is adequately controlled. Most of the people facing hypertension never opt medication to maintain their blood pressure levels and thus exposed them to various complications associated with the hypertension including stroke and heart diseases," he pointed out.
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