ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan on Saturday asked the doctors not to be lethargic in the performance of their duties and warned that strict action would be taken against those showing such an attitude.
The minister was speaking at the opening of a two-day national symposium on burden of disability. The symposium was organized by the National Institute of Handicapped (NIHd) here at a local hotel.
“I have never ever taken any action against doctors as I respect them, but now the honeymoon period is over and they have to serve the people to regain their honour,” he said.
Mr Khan also announced an award of Rs10,000 each for three girls Nadia, Mehwish and Sadia, who recovered from their disabilities at the NIHd.
He said instead of just visiting wards, the doctors should give special attention to patients, especially special persons. He asked the heads of different hospitals to establish a monitoring system in their respective hospitals, conduct surprise inspections and introduce an accountability system.
He asked the doctors to utilize the facilities being provided by the government for the benefit of the people.
Accidents and injuries on the roads, home and in workplaces were taking immense toll of life, besides maiming and disabling many, the minister said.
He said congenital disorders, strokes, joint and bone diseases disabled many and also prevented them from contributing to the socio-economic advancement of the country.
Mr Khan stressed the need for developing systems to optimize utilization of Zakat and Baitul Mal for the benefit of a majority of the population.
He said it was necessary that social-sector institutions, the Ministry of Zakat, Ushr and Pakistan Baitul Mal worked closely to develop innovative and feasible plans to channelize the available funds.
He said preventive health care was a priority area and programmes like the Expanded Polio-Immunization (EPI), national programme for primary health care, national nutrition programme launched recently were aimed at preventing deaths and disabilities from births, injuries, polio and iodine-deficiency disorders.
Mr Khan said successful implementation of these programmes was expected to reduce the burden of disabilities in Pakistan substantially. However much more remains to be done.
He said while technological advances were offering innovative and effective technologies for the disabled, their prohibition costs were preventing many from benefiting these and hence increasing the divide between the haves and have-nots.
“The case of Ms Mehwish, whose hand was amputated, well illustrates this point. As narrated by her father, in addition to the psychological trauma she has suffered owing to the amputation, she is likely to suffer further if the available prosthesis remains out of reach for her due to its cost,” he said.
The minister said the expansion of government resources could not keep pace with the phenomenal technological advances and the demands and expectations of the population. Therefore, continuous dialogue and discussion was a must to explore ways and means of meeting the needs and expectations of the people.
Earlier, Dr Khalif Bile of the World Health Organization (WHO) assured the institute that every possible financial and technical assistance would be provided. He suggested to appoint a joint commission to implement the programmes of the WHO and government for the welfare of the disabled.
