KARACHI, April 2: Speakers at a seminar have criticised the government for its alleged negligence towards the deterioration in health sector and called for adopting policies in accordance with ground realities.

They were speaking at seminar on 'Deterioration of Health System: Its Effect on People & Remedial Measures', organised by the People’s Doctors Forum Sindh (PDF) at the PMA House.

MNA Nawab Yousuf Talpur, member of the PPP Central Executive Council, said the PPP would raise the GDP expenditure on health from 0.9 per cent to 6 per cent after coming into power as instructed by WHO. He said it was imperative on state to provide citizens with health facilities and it was its responsibility to ensure their availability.

Dr Kareem Khwaja, PDF president, expressing grave concern over the rising rate of Hepatitis B and C urged the government to provide each citizen with Hepatitis B vaccines. He said TB was on the rise which should be controlled, otherwise it could prove disastrous.

Rejecting claims of the present government of provision of clean water and better sanitation conditions, he said even areas like Liaquatabad and Lyari were without such facilities. “Supply of contaminated water has raised mortality rate and waterborne diseases among the masses,” he said.

Dr. Khwaja said the Sindh Health Department should stop discrimination on the urban and rural basis.

Prof Haroon Ahmed said drugs should be sold under generic name to reduce prices of medicines. — PPI