KARACHI:
Despite healthcare being a necessity and right for all citizens of Pakistan, more than 50% of people in Karachi do not have access to primary healthcare services and nearly 42% do not receive health coverage. This is concerning because most people cannot afford private medical care. Therefore, they have little choice but to live with severe diseases and other health conditions.
The Sindh government launched the Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) to provide healthcare services in rural Sindh. Initially, I had reservations about the initiative; however, during a visit to Taluka, I took one of my companions to the basic health unit (BHU) of PPHI to seek medical assistance. To my surprise, not only were the doctors well-equipped for regular check-ups, but the prescribed medicines were easily available and provided the patient with immediate relief. Based on this experience, I visited the PPHI’s health facility in Hyderabad, which had a trained and professional paramedic staff along with all the necessary equipment.
PPHI operates in nearly 22 districts of Sindh and is focused on providing adequate healthcare services to underprivileged communities and protecting their health and economic wellbeing. The Sindh government should allocate more funds to the PPHI and strengthen the initiative to extend it across the province including Karachi. To make the initiative further effective, authorities should work in collaboration with the World Health Organisation – Pakistan to raise awareness and improve the quality of services provided.
Ajesh Kumar
Hyderabad
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2022.
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