Catching up

It may not be change but Pakistan has managed to drag its heath sector out of a bottomless pit slowly, subbornly

It may not be a makeover in the real sense but Pakistan has managed to drag its heath sector out of a bottomless pit slowly and subbornly, making it look a lot less inferior to other regional countries — especially those boasting a more robust health infrastructure. It is also true that since the pressure for vast improvement in the health sector is so strong and the resources available for that are woefully insufficient, there is scant rcognition among different segments of the opoulation for all that has been achieved so far. This is the miracle that few are exuberant over or not nearly enough at any rate. Part of the reason may be the deeper realisation that so much more needs to be done and that will probably require massive determination and skill. There should not be any complacency.

Over the last two decades, as confirmed by the latest World Health Organisation report, the progress is strikingly visible in maternal mortality rate, skilled birth attendance and tuberculosis incidence. More impressively, however, the nation’s health professionals and doctors have successfully beat back the fatality threat from cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Yet the time is not ripe for celebrations on account of several reasons. Playing catch-up has knocked the wind out of our sails — taking much of the energy that would have been spent on getting the country across the finish line or the Sustainable Development Goals-3 set for the whole region. Several ther states, less burdened than us. fared better by implementing their SDG objectives through its localisation and integration with the country’s health strategies and plans at the national and provincial levels. We watch with interest, hope and anticipation as optimal improvements are sought in the health sector.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2018.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.