Major shift : Non-communicable diseases cause most deaths: study

Report presents bleak picture of Pakistan healthcare system

ISLAMABAD: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — cancer, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular and lung diseases — are now the leading cause of premature deaths and disability in the adult economically productive population in Pakistan. 

This was revealed in a research study titled “Integration of Non-Communicable Diseases into Primary Healthcare” launched at a provincial consultative workshop here on Friday.

The study carried out by the Aga Khan University (AKU) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and health ministry gives a regional situation analysis of NCDs integration into the primary healthcare of the Eastern Mediterranean countries as well as five in-depth case studies covering Pakistan, Iran, Jordan, Morocco and Oman.

The findings of the study conducted by Dr Shehla Zaidi, an associate professor at the AKU, presents a bleak picture of Pakistan’s healthcare system as compared to Oman , Iran, Jordan, and Morocco.

“Pakistan is lagging far behind from all of these four countries in terms of human resource, availability of necessary healthcare facilities and funds,” she said. The study reveals that there is an inadequate planning of health work force in the country that has caused disproportionate doctor to nurse ratio, and a dearth of pharmacists and nutritionists.

Hence, while there are adequate number of general practitioners there is a lack of allied staff for a multi-disciplinary team approach.

Another issue is of absenteeism of doctors from rural primary healthcare centres leading to under-utilisation of government health network, according to the study.

Dr Malik Muhammad Safi, Director and National Focal Person gave a detailed presentation on the NCDs burden on Pakistan.

He informed the participants that Pakistan was already facing the burden of communicable disease and is now further burdened by NCDs.

In Pakistan mortality due to NCDs is estimated to be 54 per cent. Diseases that cause the most deaths include cardio vascular disease (CVD) (25 per cent), cancers (seven per cent) respiratory diseases (five per cent), diabetes (one per cent), injuries (eight per cent) other NCDs (eight per cent).

Meanwhile, every one in three adults over 45 years suffer from high blood pressure while prevalence of diabetes is reported at 10 per cent  common risk factors includes use of tobacco in men is 40 per cent while 12.5 per cent in women , unhealthy diet and physical in activity and lifestyle.

He expressed concern over the high management costs of NCDs that force people into poverty and stifling over all national development.

Launch of NCDs Unit

Three years after signing the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs, the health ministry launched its NCDs unit, announced Director-General health Dr Asad Hafeez. He also announced designated focal persons in all provinces.

He informed the participants that NCD units would screen adults when they visit a health facility and shift health interventions from specialists to certified family physicians, general physicians and other frontline providers, backed by training and treatment protocols.

“NCDs need to be at the centre of the development agenda post MDGs, with assistance from stakeholders who are mobilised around this human development challenge,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2014.