12 June 2004	Saturday	23 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, June 11: Health sector in Pakistan still suffers from considerable inadequacies with the availability of only one doctor for 1,404 patients, one dentist for 27,414 people, one nurse for 3,296 people and one hospital bed for 1,536 patients , the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2003-04 showed.

However, population to health experts ratio has improved his year, compared to the 2002-03 figures when one doctor was available for 1,466 patients, one dentists for 29,405 people, one nurse for 3,347 people and one hospital bed for 1,517 patient.

The economic survey report, which was released here on Friday by finance minister Shaukat Aziz, stated that the existing network of medical services in the country comprised 906 hospitals, 4,554 dispensaries, 5,290 basic health units (BHUs), 552 rural health centres (RHCs) and a total of 98,684 hospital beds.

The number of registered doctors in the country is 108,062, while the number of registered dentists and nurses is 5,530 and 46,331, respectively. The spending on health in both public and private sectors is generally very low. However, the total outlay on health during 2003-04 was estimated at Rs32.8 billion, that showed an increase of 13.8 per cent over the last year's figures, and works out to 0.8 per cent of GNP.

The new health facilities added to the overall health services system during 2003-04 include the construction of 30 new facilities, 25 BHUs and five RHCs; upgradation of 35 existing facilities, 25 BHUs and 10 RHCs; addition of 1,600 hospital beds; training of 3,500 doctors, 200 dentists, 2,000 nurses and 4,500 paramedics; recruitment of 17,000 LHVs.

To control the common diseases, different health programmes like Tuberculosis, Malaria and AIDS control Programmes were also carried out. The caloric intake per person has been estimated at 2,529 per day in 2003-04, showing an increase of 2.6 per cent over the previous year's figures, while the per capita protein availability has increased from 64.3 grams last year to 65.8 grams in the 2003-04.

The economic survey said the health coverage still suffered from unhealthy environment, insufficient resources, illiteracy, lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and limited access to health care.

The analysis of the burden of diseases shows a close relationship between the dimensions of health and poverty.

Impaired physical capacity resulting from unhealthy environments and malnutrition limits the earning potential of labourers. Most pre-mature deaths among the poor segments of society and vulnerable groups are because of poverty related communicable diseases such as childhood illness and malnutrition.

The current gaps and complexities in the health sector are a threat to poverty reduction. About the human development indicators, the economic survey said health was still low despite the fact that progress had been made in recent years.

The inter-country comparison of health indicators suggest that the national health status is characterized by high population growth, 2.2 per cent; low life expectancy, 64 years; high infant mortality rate, 82 per every 1,000; and child mortality under five years, 105 per 1,000.

This is due to the shortage of health care personnel, uneven distribution of health facilities, lack of medicines, regional disparities in the health care services and scarcity of administrative health care capabilities.