Vibrant health sector vital to improve competitiveness ranking
By Afshan Subohi
Karachi, May 4: Health scenario in Pakistan is dismal. The situation has reached a pass where an international economic watchdog has identified it as one of the major factors impacting business environment negatively.
Pakistan’s overall ranking on health and primary education was placed at 108 among its 125 competitors, while Sri Lanka registered the highest ranking (36) according to a report on comparative competitiveness of World Economic Forum.
The health indicator identifies the assessment of the medium-term impact of tuberculosis on doing business and showed a major change in ranking from 51st in 2005 to 99th in 2006.
Prevalence of reported HIV cases increased enough to cause Pakistan to move from 5th place to 26th. Rankings for malaria and tuberculosis have also showed some backward movement.
This is despite the fact that in Pakistan health is one of the most lucrative sectors of the economy. Health professionals, private sector hospitals and drug companies businesses are roaring, posting impressive profits. This, however, has not been translated into better health of an average Pakistani.
Most Pakistanis, especially those living in backward areas and belonging to deprived segments endure additional stress and suffering for health cover cbaters to people in urban centres and privileged classes.
The access to health facilities has actually shrunk over the years as public health centres and government hospitals continue to cut a sorry picture of neglect by the government and apathy of the civil society.
Declining national health graph belies government claims of poverty reduction. It also put advocates of free market in Pakistan in a tight corner as the case of leaving essential utilities to market forces in a society inflicted with disparities is weakened.
The state of Pakistan’s Competitiveness Report of the Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) and the World Economic Forum in its annual Global Competitiveness Report have identified health as one the most important factors in Pakistan’s low ranking on the Global Competitiveness Index.
A delegation of the Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF), in a recent special presentation to the ministry of health in a meeting attended by the ministry’s hierarchy advocated that besides taking necessary steps to improve performance of the health sector in Pakistan there is a need to update data on the primary health and education indicators and provide it to the international sources.
The presentation was a part of the exercise to bring all the line-ministries on board to address the competitiveness issues of Pakistan’s economy. The prime minister launched the State of Pakistan’s Competitiveness Report in March and termed competitiveness as the corner stone of Pakistan’s growth strategy.
The CSF head Arthur Bayhan, in the meeting discussed in detail the reasons for Pakistan’s low ranking on the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) of the World Economic Forum. The meeting was chaired by Khushnood Akhtar Lashari, secretary health.
Abdul Basit, joint secretary, Prime Minister’s Special Programme Wing, ministry of finance also accompanied the CSF delegation.
Arthur Bayhan in his presentation briefed the ministry on the strengths and weaknesses of the ‘Health Pillar’ of the Global Competitiveness Report. Pakistan was ranked at 91 among 125 countries on GCI.
Infant mortality scores in many countries are being reduced and Pakistan will need to make even greater effort to improve its scores relative to other countries. Bayhan explained the rational behind the indicators and pointed out that the data used for these indicators is not up-to-date.
Mr Lashari informed the CSF delegation about health policy and the government’s strategies to address the primary health issues in the country. He said, “Our aim is to improve the efficiency of the healthcare services and to enhance the quality of citizens’ livelihood in the most economically vulnerable segment.
He informed the delegation about the continuation of ministry’s programmes for the control of tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS and malaria.
He also briefed the meeting about the new initiatives on National Maternal and Child Health Program (NMCH) and the Prime Minister’s Programme for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis in Pakistan.
The ministry of health has made a commendable improvement in the percentage of TB cases detected and cured. The national programme for TB control has been very successful in detecting and curing 176,000 patients out of 240,000 registered in 2006 whereas only 60,000 patients were cured in 2001.
Secretary Health Mr Lashari also expressed his keen interest in assisting the CSF for the State of Pakistan Competitiveness Report for 2008. It was agreed that the ministry of health will be working closely with the CSF in improving Pakistan Global Competitiveness Rankings on the health indicators.
