14 March 2004	Sunday	22 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, March 13: Not enough importance has been attached to occupational medicine in the country, said a former health minister on Friday night. As a result, many people involved in dangerous occupations may be dying early deaths.

Speaking at the sixth biennial conference of the Pakistan Chest Society, Prof S.M. Rab said: "We often see people making tikkas and kebabs as they are constantly exposed to smoke," he remarked.

Prof Rab called upon all physicians to realize their responsibilities towards the people exposed to poverty, illiteracy and a wide range of preventable ailments.

At the inaugural session of the conference entitled "Healthy Lungs for All", he observed that despite significant progress in the field of medicine, particularly with the introduction of antibiotics, tuberculosis could not be controlled in Pakistan.

The professor pointed out that five cases of polio had been reported in Pakistan, out of a total of seven worldwide. Attributing the situation to the absence of collective approach even towards major national issues, the senior physician maintained that the nation was unable to enjoy the fruits of medical breakthroughs.

He criticized the indifference right from the policymakers down to the health-care providers and the masses leading to a surge in lung ailments. Elaborating, he spoke of roadside eateries, and foodstalls with open furnaces emitting smoke that cause damage to the lungs of those associated with the business.

The speaker in this context also spoke of chemical units operating within residential areas, again at the cost of public health. This, he said, was besides several other hazardous occupations, mainly adopted by people with insignificant and low educational levels.

Dr Iqbal Daudpota, an additional secretary in the health department, acknowledged that the masses were facing a host of health problems. But he added that there were positive developments too.

According to him, 80 per cent of the 800,000 tuberculosis patients in Pakistan were covered under DOTS, while in Sindh the coverage had reached the 100 per cent mark. He called upon all physicians to help the government in its efforts to contain the diseases.

Prof Ashraf Sadique, president of the Pakistan Chest Society, said that it was due to the efforts of this body that the country was provided a National Tuberculosis Control Programme during the last two years.