Prevention of infectious diseases: Federal govt programmes in disarray

A junior member of the federal cabinet blames provincial governments for the sorry state of affairs.


Sehrish Wasif April 02, 2014
A junior member of the federal cabinet blames provincial governments for the sorry state of affairs. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:


Health services delivery systems, especially infectious diseases control programmes, are in disarray as there has been no alternative plans brought in at federal level after the health ministry’s devolution to provinces.


Meanwhile, a junior minister claimed that the government was aware of the situation and shifted responsibility on to the provincial governments.

A senior official at the Ministry of National Health Service, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity that after the devolution of the health ministry in 2011, the federal government has not initiated any alternative programmes for the prevention of diseases such as hepatitis, bird flu and blindness.

“Neither has the government prepared a plan at federal level for the prevention and treatment of these diseases, nor has it released funds to the provinces” said the official.

“Due to the absence of a PC-1, all work related to creating public awareness about these diseases and measures to control them have been halted at federal level,” he added.



Talking about the avian influenza programme, the official said that if there is an outbreak of any strain of bird flu, the government has no strategy to cope with it.

About hepatitis, the official said it is spreading at an alarming rate, but the government is not paying any attention to check it.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Pakistan is currently facing an epidemic of viral hepatitis, with prevalence of hepatitis B at 2.4% and of hepatitis C at 4.9%.

According to reports an estimated 18 million of the population is infected with the hepatitis B and C virus -- nearly seven million infected with HBV and 11 million with HCV. The difference is due to the fact that many people with the diseases do not get checkups till their symptoms worsen.

“This apathy has compelled federal hospitals to stop registering new hepatitis patients due to the shortage of treatment facilities. Prior to the devolution of the ministry, hospitals were provided with interferon injections under the Prime Minister’s Programme for the Prevention and Control of Hepatitis, but after June 2011, distribution was stopped, compelling hospitals to arrange injections on their own,” said the sources.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University Vice-Chancellor Prof Javed Akram said that in the past, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) had faced issues providing treatment to hepatitis patients.

However, the hospital administration is now ---through Baitul Mal and other charitable organizations --- managing to procure interferon injections and other essential medicines, he added.

“But, we are unable to provide treatment to all the patients. We are only registering those who cannot afford the treatment. So far, the number of such patients has reached 340,” he said.

An official at Polyclinic, who wished not to be named, told The Express Tribune that since the devolution of the ministry, the hospital has stopped registering new hepatitis patients and is only providing treatment to those who were registered prior to devolution.

Before devolution, the hospital used to register 150 to 160 patients every month. Given the increasing rate of prevalence, hundreds of patients have been unable to get treatment since June 2011.

State Minister for NHRC Saira Afzal Tarar told The Express Tribune that the ministry is aware of the alarming increase in the number of hepatitis cases.

She was of the view that provincial governments are not focused and serious about preventing hepatitis.

“After the devolution of the health ministry, we lack the funds to run any awareness campaigns. I have requested the government to allocate some money for this,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2014.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ