Health facilities being choked due to an influx of monsoon related illnesses has put the spotlight on Sindh government’s district wise budgetary allocations towards health which might not be enough to have a significant impact.
If the budget presented in the last fiscal year is used to gauge health spending, a total of Rs 11.9 million was assigned to the Central District, as per documents available with the Express Tribune, which has a population of nearly 3.2 million people - translating into a Rs 3.76 per person allocation.
Various officials in the district’s 8 health centres were of the view that the measly budget allocation is a disservice to people. With one official, who commented on the situation under the condition of anonymity, saying, “the provincial government forces people towards private hospitals by giving us mere pennies to function with.”
Mujahid Aslam, who was visiting his local health care centre, concurring with the experts views, told the Express Tribune that not only were the facilities shabby but there were no medicines at their pharmacies either. “Gone are the days when we could get free medicines, now it is all dependent on one’s luck.” Another patient, Iqtadar Sheraz, whilst lamenting the loss of free medicines, added on to Aslam’s views stating that clearly good healthcare was not the provincial government’s priority. While some were upset with the lack of medication, others like Seema, who was visiting for a gynaecological disease, said that the centres lacked a bit of everything.
“The mother health care centre is devoid of trained staff and necessary equipment. How will they ensure the child and mother’s health is looked after?” she questioned. Seema further said that even if the ultrasound facilities could be ignored, this was not the first time she had been let down by the district healthcare centres. “I faced similar problems when I was trying to get dental treatment. There is no facility whatsoever for dental issues.” District Health Officer, Dr Muzaffar Odho, when asked about the difficulties that residents were facing, denied that free medicine provision was being impacted in any way.
“Medication is being provided at all district healthcare facilities uninterrupted and free of cost.” However, Dr Odho acknowledged that a lot more could be done. “Our budget allocations have been low and it is hard to operate with such financial constraints.” When asked what in particular was being affected, Dr Odho replied that there was no blood transfusion facility in the district and similarly construction of new centres was impacted as well.
“We are trying to improve facilities like the gynaecological facilities but it would help if the per person budget was increased.” The Express Tribune contacted the Provincial Health Minister, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, several times to inquire when the district’s budgetary requirements would be met so that resident’s misery could be reduced but did not hear back from her.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2022.
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