Healthcare in shambles

Among many things, the coronavirus pandemic has shed light on the dilapidated condition of healthcare in Pakistan. Some glaring problems include lack of facilities, expensive treatment and inexperienced doctors. Hospitals across the country are stuck in a desperate situation, barely keeping afloat. The situation is all the more tragic in rural areas. As the healthcare infrastructure of the country crumbles, the authorities continue to watch on in sheer ignorance.

It has recently been revealed in a media report that Karachi’s Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) is only being provided with a budget for a 1,100-bed hospital even though the hospital has expanded to a 2,200-bed facility with the addition of a new surgical building and three new wards in order to meet the increasing demands of patients. It is worth noting the Karachi’s JMPC is the biggest public-sector hospital in the Sindh province, which is visited by thousands of common people on a daily basis for receiving emergency care and getting routine treatments and tests done. Since the country is severely affected by water and air pollution, respiratory illnesses and epidemics such as dengue and tuberculosis have become rather common. Citizens therefore rely heavily on the healthcare structure and provisions provided by the government for cheap and accessible treatment. But the current shambolic conditions have caused the loss of many lives through communicable and vaccine-preventable diseases that could have easily been prevented had the government invested in procuring basic facilities and experienced medical professionals. A recent study shows that Pakistan is currently ranked 154th out of 195 countries in terms of healthcare provision. Moreover, Pakistan has one of the lowest number of immunised children. The sorry list goes on

Only a handful of citizens can afford treatment in private hospitals. This is the reason why government-funded hospitals like JPMC are important. There is a serious need for the government to shift their priorities and provide public hospitals with the provisions they require to save lives and treat people. The onus lies on the state to take care of its citizens by all means necessary.