Speakers of a two-day 'Punjab Health Sector Reforms Conference, here on Tuesday indicated that despite improvements in the health sector, there is an inadequate access to healthcare services for the people of Punjab because of insufficient competent human resource, lack of integration of health information system and regulatory mechanisms for drugs and private practices.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was the chief guest at the inaugural session. Federal Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Provincial Health Minister Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Provincial Minister for Population Welfare Begum Zakiya Shahnawaz, Advisor Dr Ijaz Nabi, former Advisor on Health Kh Salman Rafique, Members Punjab Assembly, Secretary Health, vice-chancellors, principals, physicians, surgeons and a large number of people associated with health sector were present.
Addressing on the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said that those associated with health sector should evolve such a healthcare system which could provide modern and quality health services to every member of the society on equitable basis. He said that condition of hospitals can be improved through collective wisdom and concerted efforts, as the goal of setting up a healthy society cannot be achieved without improving healthcare system. He said that besides provision of treatment facilities, due attention to preventive health is also necessary.
Shahbaz said that Pakistan is facing a number of challenges including substandard healthcare system, energy crisis, loadshedding, corruption and law and order problem but these issues can be resolved through vision, hard work and collective efforts.
He said that Punjab government is launching health insurance card scheme for extending quality health facilities to the common man. He said that a huge sum of Rs 26 billion was spent during the previous tenure of the government for providing free medicines to the poor and the common man and this process will continue in future as well. He said that Punjab government has allocated a record sum of Rs 45 billion for health sector in the new budget. He said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government has been given a historic mandate for resolving people's problem and no effort will be spared in this regard.
The Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate that while the president, prime minister, ministers, judges, generals, politicians, bureaucracy and the elite avail the best healthcare facilities in and outside the country, the underprivileged segments of the society are deprived of even basic treatment facilities. He said that this unjust system will have to be changed and such a healthcare system will have to be devised under which medical facilities are available to all segments of the society on equitable basis. He said that it is the basic responsibility of the rulers, physicians and surgeons to ensure proper treatment and preventive health facilities to the masses. He said that it is lamentable that a number of children have died due to measles. He said that Punjab government is taking all possible measures for the treatment and prevention of the children against this disease. Shahbaz Sharif said that criminal negligence was shown by not launching timely vaccination campaign against measles and such tragic incidents were intolerable. He said that he visited every nook and corner of Punjab during election campaign and it came to his notice that majority of people is facing the problem of shortage of potable water while cleanliness and sanitation problems are also common.
He said that the situation in other provinces of the country is no different. He said that there is a need to improve health management system of hospitals. He said that health and sanitary conditions in hospitals can be improved through appointment of chief executive officers and the doctors dealing with administrative affairs can perform their responsibility of serving the ailing humanity.
Shahbaz Sharif further said that provision of free medicines to the deserving persons can be ensured by evolving an effective system of check and balance besides the real objectives of allocation of funds under this head could also be achieved. He said that during the previous tenure of the government, six mobile health units were imported from Holland and sent to south Punjab and are providing modern health facilities to the masses. He said that participants of the conference should try to find answers to the questions why rural and basic health centres have failed to provide proper medical facilities to the masses and whether or not mobile health units can be a substitute for rural and basic health centres.
He said that medical equipment worth billions of rupees goes out of order in hospitals and services of foreign companies have to be acquired for its repair and maintenance. He said that Punjab government has made a substantial increase in salaries and incentives of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff and salaries of the persons associated with health sector in Punjab are much high than that of other provinces. He said that now it is responsibility of doctors to serve the ailing humanity in the real sense.