Pakistan

Citation

(2005), "Pakistan", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 18 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2005.06218fab.004

Pakistan

Far East and Australasia

Pakistan

Government to provide quality health facilities

Keywords:

In Karachi, the Provincial Adviser on health, Faisal Malik, has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to maintain a transparent policy for registration of NGOs working to combat HIV/AIDS and the establishment of rehabilitation centers for drug addicts, respectively.

Talking to Dr Benjamin, a senior public health specialist associated with the World Bank, here on Sunday, he said no influence or contacts would be tolerated in the procedure and focus would be on public welfare and quality health care facilities for citizens.

Faisal Malik said the government would not be reluctant to initiate and support schemes meant to contain incidence of AIDS and treatment of drug addicts, but in the same breath said that funds offered by international agencies would also not be allowed to be misappropriated.

The advisor said that a stringent and extremely lucid policy has been adopted to maintain a record of each and every penny spent on the public health care program, ensuring that it actually benefits the masses.

Faisal Malik also made it very clear that no agency or association would be allowed to bypass the provincial health department, as it is much better acquainted with the health issues and related problems faced by people in different parts of Sindh, and hence able adopt a much better strategy.

He also stated that there had been previous instances when donor agencies and projects sponsored by world organisations were provided with poor quality items.

This would no longer be acceptable to the present government, and it would ensure that funds in all forms are properly utilised and serve the public interest in all contexts.

For more information, see http://pakobserver.net

Pakistan Red Crescent Society

Keywords: Health indicators, Health prevention, Health care outcomes

The indicators relating to health continue to reflect poor health status for the majority of Pakistan’s population of approximately 149 million. Life expectancy stands at 64 years, with a high infant mortality rate of 82 per 1,000 live births, while the maternal mortality rate ranges between 350 and 400. Women of reproductive age constitute 23 per cent of the total population and the sex ratio in Pakistan is adverse to women at 108:100. The population growth rate is 1.9 per cent annually, with a total fertility rate of 4.07. Pakistan thus lags behind its neighbours and other low-income countries in terms of health and population outcomes.

People living in large pockets of hard to reach and difficult areas in the country are especially vulnerable as existing health services are mainly concentrated in urban areas, where less than one third of Pakistan’s population lives. Rural health facilities, which are inadequate in number, are often poorly staffed and under-equipped. The major reasons for the high rate of maternal mortality is poor access to prenatal care and a dearth of trained attendants at birth (78 per cent of babies are delivered at home without trained birth attendant). Five or six women die every hour during childbirth due to preventable causes.

This situation is exacerbated in the conflict-prone areas adjoining the 2,500 km Western border with Afghanistan. In the post-9/11 scenario, the border areas of NWFP and Balochistan have been profoundly affected. In addition to the influx of Afghan refugees, large numbers of the local population have been displaced from the border zone because of security concerns. Due to lack of basic health care and harsh living conditions in temporary shelters, the population in the conflict areas has become particularly vulnerable.

The Pakistan Red Crescent society, in keeping with its humanitarian mandate as a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation), and as signatory to the Federation Health Policy (1999), undertakes to provide health services to the most vulnerable people in Pakistan. This role is undertaken as an auxiliary to the Government of Pakistan.

PRCS provides health care through 165 health units ranging from primary health care centers to tertiary care hospitals. The majority of health units are supported by District Branches through their own resources. During the Strategic Plan period 2005-2008, PRCS’s emphasis will be on provision of health care to the vulnerable population in the conflict prone border areas and those living in areas where there are no health facilities.

Efficient provision of quality health care by the health units includes outreach services such as staff, equipment, medicines and transportation facility for patients.

Training in key strategic health areas will be ensured for equipping the services providers with required technical skills and knowledge.

Coordination with Government, NGOs, INGOs and private sector health network will be strengthened for ensuring good quality health care to the vulnerable.

Health care activities will be carried out in an integrated programme approach along with other programmes (e.g. Disaster Management and Humanitarian Values).

For more information, see www.prcs.org.pk