Voicing concerns: PMA warns against govt's plan to privatise hospitals

The medical body's representatives claim an NGO will take control of all district hospitals.

HYDERABAD: The Sindh government is planning to hand over all the government hospitals and health units to the Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI), claimed the Pakistan Medical Association's Sindh chapter.

At a press conference on Friday, PMA's representatives warned of starting a protest movement if the provincial government went ahead with the plan. "A decision has been taken to privatise the government's health facilities. Giving them in the PPHI's control is just the first step," claimed PMA's provincial general secretary Dr Manzoor Ali.



According to the medical body's leaders, the provincial health department, at a recent meeting, decided to hand over all the district and taluka level hospitals, rural health centres (RHUs) and maternal child health centers (MCHs) to the PPHI.

The PPHI is a government-funded non-governmental organisation that manages the government's basic health units (BHU). The organisation was initially given the task of activating 150 or so non-functional BHUs in the province. There are 17 district hospitals and 41 taluka hospitals in Sindh. The PMA claims all of them will be given under the PPHI's management.

Dr Ali held the government responsible for making the case for privatisation of the government's health facilities by deliberately compromising the quality of health services at the public hospitals. "There is no shortage of funds for the hospitals. The political involvement in the appointments and bureaucratic corruption has caused this degeneration."

PMA vice president Dr Tahir Kalyar contended that the health services offered at the government hospitals could be improved while keeping them under the government's control. "There are just 10,766 doctors for around 50 million people in Sindh. At least 5,000 doctors should be appointed for the government facilities, ensuring as many appointments in the following years to bridge the gap," Dr Kalyar demanded.

The PMA also demanded activation of hospital monitoring committees, which would comprise notable citizens, journalists and retired judges, besides doctors and health officials as its members.

The PMA leaders also warned of challenging the handover in the Sindh High Court if the government did not withdraw its decision within the next two weeks.

The health secretary and director general could not be reached despite repeated attempts.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2013.