11 August 2004	Wednesday	24 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Tuesday announced the formation of a National Commission on Health and a number of measures for improving health sector, including a Rs300 million fund for disabled people , upgradation of nurses' pay scales and increase in stipend for post-graduate medical students.

These decisions were announced by the prime minister in a speech at the inaugural session of the National Health Conference at the Convention Centre here on Tuesday. The prime minister said the proposed National Commission for Career Structure of Health Personnel would review the service structure of doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and paramedical staff.

He said the commission would specifically address the issue of better pay and allowances admissible to them and submit its recommendations within three months. Announcing upgradation of pay scales of nursing staff, Mr Hussain said a nurse would be upgraded from BPS-14 to BPS-16 and the Head Nurse from BPS-16 to BPS-17.

Apart from this, the prime minister said nurses with a one-year post-graduate diploma would be given one advance increment and those with B.Sc and M.Sc would be given two advance increments in their salaries.

"We need to motivate young women to join the noble profession and this can only happen if their respect, dignity and security are protected," the prime minister said. Similarly, Mr Hussain also announced the increase in the stipend of post-graduate medical students from existing Rs6,000 to Rs10,000 a month.

He praised the pharmaceutical sector in the country for providing quality and economical products. However, he said, there were a few complaints about spurious drugs' supply to the market. He asked the health ministry to further strengthen the mechanism for monitoring and supervision of quality medicines.

He said the issue of shortage of health professionals was critical. "We are losing our best brains to the West because of lack of incentives and an attractive career structure," he added.

Highlighting the government's achievements, the prime minister said for the first time relevant legislations were being debated in parliament to promote health and curb spread of diseases.

Unfortunately, he said, road accidents and violence were causing disability and loss of precious human lives every day. Mr Hussain said the government had presented a long overdue Injured Persons' Bill in the National Assembly which would ensure timely emergency treatment to victims of accidents and violence.

Earlier, he said, precious lives and valuable time were lost in completing medico-legal formalities before providing emergency care to an injured person. "Similarly, we will fully support an effective legislation regarding the Road Safety like using helmets and seat belts and other effective measures, which have proved to be helpful in reducing the impact of accidents and save lives," he said.

He said he had already directed that trauma centres be opened in various parts of the country. The prime minister said the government was trying to break the cycle of poverty and ill-health and was focusing on pro-poor policies and programmes to provide adequate health care facilities to the poor sections of society.

Mr Shujaat said through this policy, the health sector investment had been increased, as was evident from the current year's budget allocation. "We will strive to increase this investment steadily to bring it in line with the World Health Organization's recommendations.

"However, we will eagerly await a corresponding improvement in health indicators," he said. He said giving respect to patients was part of religion and culture. "This must become a part of our medical and administrative culture also," he added. Later, the prime minister visited stalls set up by a large number of drug manufacturers at the venue of the conference for promoting their products.