SAPM claims health reforms as dengue claims life

Education minister laments poor standard of education in country

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: Even as the dengue viral fever claimed another life in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the prime minister’s top aide on health on Monday said that they had initiated reforms to revamp the entire health infrastructure of the country.

Addressing the International Conference on Medical Education, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said that the entire healthcare system will be upgraded.

“The government is striving to improve health facilities for the masses and special attention is being paid to improving patient care in hospitals of the federal capital that are catering to the bulk of patients, not only from the capital but from other parts of the country,” Dr Mirza stated.

He added that the government will revamp the services at federal government hospitals to improve the quality of services for patients.

“The health ministry is striving to improve health facilities for the masses at all public sector hospitals working under the federal government, the SAPM said, as he adopted the usual trope of blaming past governments for paying scant attention to the health sector.

Offering a glimpse into their plan to improve services, Dr Mirza said that they will increase funds and human resource to improve patient care.

“All medical staff have been directed that no effort should be spared in providing the best possible treatment to the patients,” he added.

85 more dengue patients brought to Rawalpindi hospitals

“There will be zero tolerance for negligence in this regard, he said, adding that the government is paying special attention to make revolutionary changes in the health sector and that every effort will be made to ensure the provision of best health care facilitates in the country.

Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, in the same event, stated that the government has also taken numerous steps to bring reforms in the education sector.

"Our curriculum is not according to the market demand, due to which the students, despite having doctorate degrees, are unable to find jobs," he lamented. The current standard of medical education in the country was also poor, he added and hoped that the outcomes of this conference will play a key role in resolving these issues. He further said that the government had launched the Sehat Insaf Card — a health insurance scheme — under which the poor will be able to get the best treatment.

Under the programme, he said, people from marginalised communities would be provided with the best healthcare facilities. He lauded the efforts of the SAPM on health for doing a tremendous job in the health sector.

Dengue death

Meanwhile, the death toll from dengue during the ongoing transmission season rose to 52 after the viral fever claimed the life of 14-year-old Tayyaba. A resident of Islamabad, the teenager was admitted in Holy Family Hospital (HFH) where she succumbed to the curable virus.

Moreover, in the past 24 hours, the epidemic saw as many as 60 additional patients brought into the three allied hospitals of Rawalpindi.

So far, as many as 9,596 people have tested positive for dengue while more than 5,000 patients have been discharged from hospitals after successful treatment.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2019.