Event on skin diseases: experts say no funds allocated for treatment of communicable diseases

The government's negligence towards the health sector can be gauged by the fact that there is no budget allocation for non-communicable diseases such as psoriasis in the budget for 2012-13. More than 5 percent of the country's total population is suffering from this disease and its incidence is increasing every year.
This was the crux of the event titled 'Dermato-Expert League' organised by Novartis Pharma (Pakistan) Limited. 'Psoriasis - its Deep Skin' was the basic theme of the event. Dr Brigadier Zafar Iqbal Sheikh, a dermatologist, Professor Sahibzada Mahmood Noor from the Lady Leading Hospital, Peshawar, Professor Manzooor H Memon, Senior Dermatologist from Institute of Skin Diseases Sindh, Professor Umair Mansoor, a senior Dermatologist from Lahore, Professor Azher Rashid, vice-president of Pakistan Association of Dermatology, and Dr Ahson Siddiqi from Novartis Pharma were among the participants of the event.
The event was specially designed to create awareness about the World Psoriasis Day that will be celebrated on October 29.
Psoriasis is a life-long skin disorder that causes red, scaly patches called lesions to appear on your skin. The lesions can show up on any area of the skin. Psoriasis affects nearly three percent of the world's population. It can develop in males or females of any race or age.
Dr Brigadier Zafar Iqbal Sheikh while addressing to the audience said that Psoriasis can be limited to a few areas of the skin (mild), or it can be moderate or widespread and severe.
"There is lack of awareness among the common people about Psoriasis. In most cases the patient suffering from the disease is ignorant of the fact that he would have to continue his treatment for the life time. This disease is non-communicable but due to lack of knowledge, the people avoid being social with the psoriasis patient," Dr Zafar said.
Professor Manzoor Memon said that in Pakistan more than 5 percent of the total population while in most of the other countries of the world, 1.5-2 percent people are facing this disease. "Federal and the provincial health departments have not made any budgetary allocations so far to formulate any policy or develop any mechanism to at least help out the patients financially as the psoriasis treatment is expensive like the other major diseases such as cancer or hepatitis", Professor Manzoor revealed.
Professor Sahibzada Mahmood Noor said "Keeping the skin from drying out, getting regular sunlight and bathing daily can help reduce or prevent flare ups while treatment for psoriasis involves topical medication that is applied to the skin directly for mild irritation and flare-ups, pills and shots for more severe outbreaks, and phototherapy (light therapy using artificial sunlight).
Professor Umair Mansoor said: "At present, no official data is available about the total number of psoriasis patients in Pakistan which shoes the government's negligence towards the disease that has so far affected about 125 million people globally."
Psoriasis affects males and females equally and accounts for 10-20 percent of all referrals to dermatologists while about 10 percent of all infants and young children experience symptoms of the disease, Professor Umair said.
Professor Azher Rashid said: "Psoriasis exerts deep psychological affects upon its patients. It is right to say that the overall quality of life of psoriasis patients is even worst affected during the treatment. According to an estimate, nearly 14-15 percent of the psoriasis patients across the world have idea of suicide while 9 percent have actually committed suicide. "International federation of psoriasis Association is campaigning to WHO to include this disease in its strategy for prevention of non-communicable diseases", Dr Azher added.
Dr Ahson Siddiqi told the audience that it was the first time in history of Pakistan that Pakistan Association of Dermatology in collaboration of Novartis has decided celebrate World Psoriasis day to formulate some guidelines about psoriasis on National level to create awareness among the people. Formed by a global consortium of patient associations from around the world, World Psoriasis Day aims to raise the profile of a condition which needs to be taken more seriously by national and international authorities. Right now, there are many psoriasis associations around the world supporting research to find out why people get psoriasis and how it can be treated or even cured.
Participants called for increasing public awareness about psoriasis, making the government allocate some amount in the budget for providing medicines used in treatment of psoriasis in the government-run hospitals, besides urging the government to start a campaign on the pattern of anti-polio drive.
Lastly, they urged the media to be involved in creating public awareness about the disease.