KARACHI:
Health service delivery in our country offers nothing much to write home about. People are suffering for want of proper health services even in urban centres. For those who can afford medical treatment, there are good healthcare facilities in private-sector hospitals. But most of the people — those belonging to the poor and lower middle class — have had to depend upon public-sector hospitals that are not just burdened way beyond their capacity, but are not properly equipped and adequately staffed either — something that affects the quality of healthcare services.
The situation in rural centres is even more pathetic. In interior parts of Sindh and Balochistan, in particular, even a small healthcare facility is only available at a distance. A big number of people in small towns and villages lose their lives just because of lack of medical facilities and shortage of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. Even for cases like dog bite, patients have to be rushed to cities. There are reports of women giving birth outside hospitals either for non-availability of bed or of medical staff — something that often results in children dying during birth.
Pakistan’s population is more than 200 million, according to the 2017 census. Of this number, about 50 million, according to our prime minister, are living below the poverty, earning less than $2 a day and finding it difficult to afford two square meals a day. Can we expect such people to pay their health bill from their own pockets? Of course, not. If people belonging to this group get sick, they do not visit a doctor and try any home remedies instead. It’s only because of some charitable hospitals in our country that people have some hope.
The Prime Minister has recently come up with a health insurance scheme for those domiciled in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. But it remains to be seen whether it will be implemented the way it is being advertised.
Mahnoor Rafiq Ahmed
Turbat
Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2021.
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