APROPOS the letter ‘Govt healthcare’ (Oct. 8), incidents of untimely death of a person from some preventable disease continue to be reported at an alarming rate. It seems that despite the considerable expenditure incurred on 200 medical colleges, 30 medical universities, a three-tier health system and many tertiary hospitals, there are things amiss.

Relatives of the deceased resort to violence, thinking this will set things right when, in fact, such incidents lead to further deterioration in the working conditions in hospitals.

I have been working for more than three decades in government health facilities, and I believe such preventable tragedies are the manifestation of deep-seated malaise in our health system. Most doctors, educated and trained in Pakistan, provide high-quality professional service in countries, like the United Kingdom and the United States. In my opinion, if the government is serious about healthcare, it should take the certain measures for the prevention of such incidents.

Firstly, it should increase the budget for primary health facilities, and this must be used effectively for the development of infrastructure. Besides, the three-tier healthcare services should be integrated with medical education, and governance should be improved in teaching hospitals.

Also, the government should standardise patient referral systems through digital technology and by networking various ambulance services. Inter-professional education, team working and public health concepts should be introduced in the curricula of medical teaching institutions.

Furthermore, the pharmaceutical sector should be encouraged to produce generic, lifesaving drugs for common diseases at the lowest possible prices.

Dr Ghulam Asghar Channa

Larkana

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2020