SARGODHA, Feb 28: Sargodha Pakistan Medical Association secretary-general Dr Sikandar Hayat Warraich has alleged that huge amounts spent by the government on procuring medicines for its hospitals are being embezzled by a "commission mafia".

Talking to Dawn, he said the government must improve the situation in health sector by focusing on preventive measures. For instance, Hepatitis B could be prevented by vaccination. He wondered why Pakistan could not be purged of hepatitis if it could be made polio-free by 2005.

He said it was necessary to provide at least three doctors in a BHU as one man could not work round the clock.

He pointed out that at present, only 20 per cent of the population was benefiting from government-run hospitals. For 600,000 people of Sargodha, there were only 70 beds for women and 24 beds for children in the Maula Bakhsh hospital for the mother and child - the only government hospital of its kind in the four districts that once formed the Sargodha division.

Dr Warraich observed that only four doctors were available in the hospital. Five posts of women MOs were lying vacant. Only one woman MO was available for dealing with medico-legal cases pertaining to women.

He said that doctors should be appointed on a permanent basis instead of being hired on contract.

He said that quackery was flourishing in the region due to negligence of the health department.

Dr Warraich said a big well-equipped hospital was needed in the city which would allow establishment of a medical college.

Commenting on the Bird Flu, Dr Warraich said a normal person may not be affected by eating an infected bird, which could, however, prove fatal for an influenza-affected person. He said though complaints had been made about the existence of virus in Sargodha district, the government was not ready to accept them.