KARACHI, March 12: Speakers at a seminar urged the government to take measures for promotion of rational and evidence-based drug prescription by doctors and elimination of unethical practices in healthcare industry.

The seminar was held as part of the 10th Biennial Convention of Pakistan Islamic Medical Association on Sunday. The discussion held on the issue of medical ethics, was chaired by Baqai University Vice-Chancellor Lieutenant General (rtd) S. Azhar Ahmed, while the speakers included Dr Ejaz A Vohra, Dr Mahmood Ahmed Ghazi, Dr Amir Jaffery, Dr Khalid Zaheer, and representatives from pharmaceutical industry and media.

The speakers were of the view some legislations against the unethical marketing practices in pharmaceutical industry could help check the “disreputable relation between the pharmaceutical companies and doctors”.

It was recommended that a formal group of representatives from healthcare sector, patients or consumers and media should be formed to frame guiding principles and outlines on the relationship between doctors and pharmaceutical industry. The proposed group should have government support and be allowed to act as a watchdog against the prevalent unethical practices, which ultimately overburdened patients.

The government should also take legal action against medical professionals, institutions and pharmaceutical firms found guilty of misconduct and malpractices.

One of the speakers expressed concern over the existing observance of ethics among medical students and health practitioners. He said the health ministry, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and the Pakistan Medical Research Council were not up to mark as far as teaching and practice of medical ethics was concerned.Dr Misbahul Aziz, Professor A. Gaffar Billoo, Dr Sher Shah Syed and others at another session of the biennial convention, dedicated to public health, urged the government to increase its annual health budget. At present, they noted, the national health budget was one of the lowest among the developing countries. They deplored that among the 177 countries across the world Pakistan was ranked 147th in healthcare.

The maternal mortality rate in the country was one the highest in the world; a significant portion of the country’s population was affected by hepatitis; vaccines for snake and dog bites were not available in the rural areas; 27 per cent of the total population were smokers; TB and psychiatric illnesses were overwhelmingly on the rise, and the overall healthcare scenario was highly deplorable, the speakers mentioned.

PATHOLOGISTS’ MOOT: A two-day biennial conference of the Society of Chemical Pathologists was concluded the other day with an urge that linkages among different sections played important role in the health sector. It also emphasised the sheer significance of the human factor not withstanding technological innovations.