KARACHI, July 1: If the quality of water supplied to the people and the blood administered to them could be monitored properly, a lot of health problems could be overcome, said the federal health minister on Tuesday.

Talking to a group of journalists after presenting certificates to some nurses at the Urology Department of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, M. Naseer Khan said in every developed country, and also in some developing countries, sewage pipes and water conduits were laid many metres apart. This was done to make sure that the drinking water does not get contaminated with sewage.

“Unfortunately, this has not been ensured here. This is one issue which requires urgent attention on the part of town-planners,” he said.

In response to a question, he said the government was sincere in resolving the issue of payment of stipend to the postgraduate doctors. Funds were being set aside for this purpose, he claimed.

The minister said the federal health secretary and director- general health would be coming to Karachi next week to look into the administrative problems afflicting the National Institute of Child Health. The NICH seemed to be facing the problems rising out of differences of opinion among the senior staff.

“As I have said so many times in my speeches, the worst enemy of a doctor is another doctor.” Mr Khan said the secretary and director-general would look at all the angles of the problem before proposing corrective measures.

Earlier, speaking at the certificate distribution ceremony, the minister said information technology needed to be utilized to help improve the performance of the healthcare units.

He also underscored the need for undertaking more and more research in pure as well as applied sciences.

Mr Khan said in very few countries could a citizen get medical treatment free of cost. “However, in Pakistan this has been made possible.”

He was of the opinion that enhanced allocations in the federal budget for health would allow the administrators and managers of healthcare units to improve efficiencies.

The minister said the nurses were like the backbone of any healthcare system. “That’s why they should be accorded more respect. We should also take care that they get enough recreational facilities.”

The minister called upon the administrators of public sector hospitals across the country to ensure proper and safe disposal of general and pathological waste generated at their respective institutions, adds APP.

He expressed deep concern over reports of growing incidence of bacterial and viral infections among local population, including health care providers and under-treatment patients.

He said the government is fully conscious of its responsibilities towards public health and for that purpose not only a meaningful raise has been ensured for health sector in the federal as well as provincial budgets, but concerted efforts are also under way to make optimum use of available resources and manpower.

“Due measures are also being adopted for regular training programmes and enhancement of skills of nurses, paramedics and doctors respectively,” the minister said mentioning that support of philanthropists and NGOs is also being availed for the very purpose.

Earlier, Prof. Masroor Sheikh, Head of JPMC Urology Department, addressing the ceremony said a three-month computer training course was introduced at the department with the help of a local philanthropist.

Under the very arrangement, 58 nurses of the hospital received training, 54 of whom successfully completed the course and would efficiently contribute to the ongoing efforts to computerise JPMC.

Prof. Masroor Sheikh said that the remaining of the four nurses would soon complete training while a batch of another 15 post-graduate doctors would be inducted for the programme which will be an ongoing exercise till all relevant hospital staffers acquire computer skills.

Prof. Kazi Abdul Shakoor, Director, Jinnah Post-graduate Medical Centre also addressed the ceremony.