Lack of clean environment, apathy of healthcare providers and frustration of patients are evident at govt hospitals
PHOENIX, AZ, USA: In Pakistan, life goes on regardless of the damages or suffering to unsuspecting patients at the hands of healthcare providers. Life has to go on, but some measure of accountability has to be implemented by rewarding the good guys and punishing the bad guys. The status quo needs to be challenged; one cannot just throw in the towel and let life meander its ugly course, with innocent people repeatedly getting hurt by the actions of ignorant, headstrong and quite frankly, criminal people in charge of their health.
Any government hospital in Pakistan paints a picture of despair, despondency, helplessness and depression. Lack of a clean environment, apathy of healthcare providers and extreme frustration of patients are evidenced all over the place. Many of us who acquired basic medical degrees in Pakistan and then went abroad to obtain advanced medical training, realise the shortcomings of Pakistan’s government and even private healthcare systems in Pakistan. Healthcare systems throughout the world have their weaknesses and can improve, but the situation in Pakistan is dismal.
The PTI is trying hard to bring reforms in health in order to fulfill its promise of a new Pakistan. With healthcare being a provincial matter, the PTI is trying to bring positive changes in the government’s health structure. Of course, it is getting resistance from the usual howls that are bent upon retaining the status quo for the sake of their own interests.
The K-P assembly passed the Health Reforms Act 2015 to empower government institutions in order to free these institutions from the clutches of the pallbearers who want to keep the health system buried under the pile of bureaucracy. A typical government hospital healthcare worker wants to work a few hours or even less, does not want any responsibility, but wants to be paid well and enjoys the perks attached to a title at a government hospital. Consultants who are supposed to teach junior doctors and ensure that healthcare quality is maintained, are the hardest to find in government hospitals. Many of these consultants have lucrative private practices where they spend most of their time, leaving patients in government hospitals at the mercy of junior staff. Of course, it feels great to have a big title in a government hospital and make tonnes of money without any responsibility that comes with such positions.
The PTI is trying to run government hospitals through a competent and independent board of governors. Many of the individuals supervising the PTI’s health initiatives have rich experiences of working in Pakistan and abroad. Dr Nausherwan Burki, Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yousuf are known to me personally and these individuals have worked selflessly to build Shaukat Khanum Hospital, which is known for its credibility in delivering good quality healthcare to all of their patients, regardless of their background. It is clear that the PTI’s intentions are to improve patient care and provide good quality education to junior doctors to bring meaningful change in the health sector in K-P and Pakistan as a whole. These efforts will be challenged, particularly for petty political reasons, but I know the PTI will not throw in the towel.
Abdul Nadir, M D
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2016.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
