ISLAMABAD, July 19: “Every day as many as 1,200 children die because of common diseases which can be cured by giving them medicine ranging from Rs10 to 20. But unfortunately in remote areas of the country people cannot afford to pay even Rs10. We have to make sure that our welfare state should act like a welfare state.”
It was stated by Prof Dr Arjumand Faisel, a health practitioner, during a discussion “Health as a basic right” organised by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Thursday.
Spokesman of President of Pakistan, senator Farhatullah Babar, senators Rubina Khalid and Suriya Amiruddin, also participated in the discussion.
Dr Faisel said: “We have poorest of the poor, but unfortunately political personalities and bureaucracy seem least interested to solve their issues.
About 13 per cent women who die in hospitals are those who are admitted after induced abortions. So we have to find out a solution to this problem, including legalisation of abortions.”
Farhatullah Babar said that health was a basic human right and both parliamentarians and health experts should coordinate with each other to resolve the issues. There should be equal emphasis on health and education.
“After 18th amendment, health has become a provincial subject but still quality of drugs is a big concern. On orders of the Supreme Court, Drug Regulatory Agency has been formed through an ordinance but that ordinance (which cannot be renewed) will expire on September 14 and after that once again quality of drugs will become a provincial subject,” he said.
“Legislation should be done to form a Drug Regulatory Authority. At the moment laboratories all over the country are running without any regulatory authority due to which we cannot put a check on them,” he said.
Rubina Khalid said: “There are a number of doctors practicing in Pakistan, who were terminated in the US and other countries because of malpractices. Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) should take notice.
There is both financial and intellectual corruption in the country.”
Dr Ali of Population Council Pakistan said that the right to health is assured in the Constitution of Pakistan (Article 38-d), but because of various reasons it has remained a neglected area. The situation demands that decision makers and members of public and civil society should sit together to discuss the issues and think of ways to improve health services.
He said that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure right of health but there were only 3,000 health welfare centres all over the country for 180 million people. Besides, water, food and environment are also affecting health of masses.
“Sixty per cent females are not getting trained service providers at the time of delivery. As many as 276 mothers out of 100,000 die at the time of delivery and 94 children out of 1,000 die before reaching the age of 5 years,” he said.Government is contributing only 25 per cent of expenditure to the health sector, while the remaining 75 per cent is being given by private sector. Out of 75 per cent, 80 percent is being given directly by the people and the other is being sponsored by different NGOs, etc.,” he said.
He said that 60 per cent population earned less than $2 (Rs180) per day, so purchasing medicines was a huge expense for them.
Nasreen Azhar, council member of HRCP was the coordinator of the workshop.