Keywords
Citation
(2013), "Pakistan - Pakistan expenditure on healthcare lowest in region", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 26 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2013.06226caa.011
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Pakistan - Pakistan expenditure on healthcare lowest in region
Article Type: News and views From: International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Volume 26, Issue 3
Keywords: Healthcare expenditure and medical access, Continuing medical education and healthcare outcomes, Patient care improvement programmes
Hypertension is a silent killer as it causes no symptoms while non-serious approach towards controlling high blood pressure can cause heart attacks, kidney failure, strokes and can damage eyes, stated Dr Fawad Farooq, Consultant Cardiologist, The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi.
At a training program organized by Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) as its series of continuing medical education (CME) for doctors and masses, he revealed that according to a report of WHO total expenditure on health per capita in Pakistan is only $59 which is very low as compare to India with $132 and Sri Lanka $148. “There is a dire need to provide relief to masses, he said, adding that early consultation with doctors can cut down the costs on diseases.”
Dr Fawad regretted that people usually did not care about the sensitivity of the disease. ‘Healthy lifestyle, proper diet, regular exercise and better medication can play a decisive role in minimizing the adverse effects of hypertension.
He said that patients should avoid higher intake of salt and smoking. There is a strong need of daily exercise to control obesity and a check on blood pressure,’ he added.
CME covered hyper-tensive emergencies, one of the commonest medical emergencies faced at every level is primary, secondary or tertiary care and sometimes even in non-medical specialties.
This CME was an interactive case based discussion on how to approach a patient with very high blood pressures at a primary care level to guide general practitioners the updated knowledge of handling this common medical emergency in a confident fashion.
A large number of medical graduates and doctors attended the CME while Dr Salman Ghauri Cardiologist, President PIMA Karachi, Dr Zeeshan Hussain Ansari, Dr Abdul Malik were also present.
Participants appreciating CME on a very significant health topic said the knowledge they gained during presentation would ultimately help to transfer their expertise for better patient care.
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