Few positives in a year of outbreaks and mismanagement. PHOTO: FILE
Promising developments and political promises abounded in 2013, some even succeeding to melt the hearts of the choicest cynics. However, the tall claims made by incoming political parties failed to substantiate on many fronts.
Addressing core health issues faced by the common man was on the manifesto of PML-N, but the main focus of the government remained polio eradication, with other diseases and issues swept under the rug. Campaigns for the former did not bear much fruit either, as evinced by the 77 reported cases, falling just behind Somalia as the country with the worst outbreak.
In a bid to account for these lags, The Express Tribune spoke to medical practitioners and their patients to ask about their new year’s resolutions. The issues highlighted in this discourse are pressing enough to act as stepping stones for formulating healthy policies for the upcoming year.
A senior physician at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) wishing to retain his anonymity expressed his wish saying “I hope there is a significant drop in the number of patients visiting hospitals in 2014 and more are granted the right of happy, healthy family lives.” He reminded that with a strong political will towards this end, many goals can be achieved.
Saima, a nursing student said, “In 2014 I would like to see all public hospitals having sufficient number of nurses to look after the patients properly.” Whereas Shahid Hussain, a customer at a drug store in Aabpara Market wished that quality medications be sold at low prices.
It is instructive to note that due to a 30 per cent cut in their annual budget, public hospitals had to undertake severe cutbacks in free treatment services and provision of medication. In the meanwhile, the Pakistan Medical Dental Council (PMDC) — the country’s medical regulator — remained in the news due to illegal appointments, promotions and fake registration of medical colleges and doctors.
An increased emphasis needs to be placed on vaccination and immunisation against preventable diseases. An official of the expanded programme on immunisation (EPI) wishing anonymity said, “I wish that in 2014 all the children in Pakistan are fully vaccinated against preventable diseases and enjoy healthy lives”.
He remarked that this dream is easily translatable to reality if the coverage of routine immunisation in the country is enhanced.
While speaking of preventable diseases, Raza Ali Shah, attending to his asthmatic mother at a local hospital, said, “I wish for reliable gas supply in 2014 so that my house stays warm and my mother does not get more asthma attacks.”
Allah Ditta, the father of an 8-year-old Thalasemia patient, said “I hope that I can easily get blood for my son in 2014 so he can stay healthy like the rest of my children.”
Major outbreaks of dengue fever and measles were also witnessed during the past year. The EPI puts the total figure for suspected cases of measles nationwide at 33,314, out of which 8,616 were confirmed. The viral disease claimed over 500 lives, with a lack of funding ruling out the possibility of a nationwide anti-measles campaign. Moreover, the World Health Organisation (WHO) found dengue fever cases being reported from less endemic areas of the country. There were 9,402 confirmed cases reported from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 5,058 from Sindh, 2,442 from Punjab 2,442 and 23 from Balochistan from January 1 to November 30.
Another overwhelming medical issue to be grappled with is the proliferation of hepatitis in the country. Despite the national prevalence of hepatitis B at 2.4 per cent and hepatitis C at 4.9 per cent, federal governments past and present failed to take any preventative measures except false, fat promises. No active federal-level program to address the endemic problem exists, while most public hospitals have stopped providing subsidised treatment for the disease, leave most poor patients to suffer.
Shaiq Hussian, a hepatitis C patient said, “All I want is for all public hospitals to start giving free treatment for my disease so that many people like me can hope to live for longer.”
The rapidly ballooning population figure magnified the scope of health challenges, with no significant measures on part of the government to increase access to family planning services or ensure the availability of contraceptives.
A successfully launched National Nutrition Survey remained the only positive development on the politico-health horizon in 2013, sans any concurrent, concrete plans to address pertinent issues.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2014.
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