KARACHI, May 28: Need for an efficient health-care policy in the country is all the more necessary under the conditions, with one doctor catering to the medical needs of 1,578 people, followed by 35,557 patients attended by one dental surgeon and 3,822 by a single nurse.

According to Pakistan Dental and Medical Council sources, the number of doctors registered with it in 1999 was 87,105 as against 35,979 nurses and 3,867 dentists.

While both private and public sectors are actively involved in meeting the health-care needs of the masses, private sector is mainly concentrating in the urban areas.

Lack of commitment and will on the part of health care personnel also effects the situation as despite existence of a family welfare centre at every 93 kms in Punjab, at every 13.5 kms in Sindh, at every 11.3 kms in the NWFP and 47.5 kms in Balochistan, people complain of not being provided quality service owing to non-availability of required medicines and gadgets.

Fifty-five per cent of the rural women are registered to approach these family welfare centres to get their blood pressure checked, followed by 16 per cent for urine test and 37.9 per cent weight assessment during pregnancy and 65.5 per cent to get vaccinated against tetanus. Thirteen per cent of women actually delivered their babies at these centres and were handled by comparatively better trained TBAs.

Sixty-six per cent of rural women in the Punjab were found to approach these centres without a formal permission of their spouse and 28 per cent complained of having a deep sense of insecurity.—APP