Revolutionizing Social Services : PTI is doing hard for making New Pakistan
Social and health policies of Pakistan are not exemplary one. Those policy makers who were responsible to develop polices and plans paid no attention and adapted short cut policies to develop temporary programs, beside this they also presented and prefer cup of teas to complete these important assignments. Its resul was all plans could not come to the actual conclusion and general communities remained away from the actual benefits.
But PTI government is entirely different and gave importance to resolve the issues and focused the real needs of the different communities all over the country. Health program and its different related issues are also in this program. I am sure PTI will ensure universal health coverage and enhance the focus on primary care while upgrading secondary & tertiary facilities. I have observed being a neutral person that PTI will pay special attention to turn over a new leaf in society in the best interest of Pakistan and its different communities. Pakistan faces a double burden of disease: high prevalence of communicable diseases (e.g. TB, Hepatitis, diarrhea, etc.) and non-communicable diseases (e.g. Diabetes, heart diseases, etc.) simultaneously. This is an excellent achievement of PTI government, if this government keeps on performing like it. It will serve the Pakistan up to a maximum level and it will become a prosperous country.
Moreover, low coverage and quality of care results in a maternal mortality rate of 170 per 100,000 births, and a child mortality rate of 86 per 1000 live births, one of the worst in the region, but PTI will resolve all this disputative issues and Pakistan might become a prorogues country like UK, USA, Scandinavian countries etc.. These problems are serious by weak health delivery systems: But PTI and health system will resolve all these by the grace of Almighty under the leadership of Imran Khan. Facility coverage is low, especially in remote areas (e.g. 56% BHU coverage in Baluchistan), positions are vacant (e.g. doctors in BHUs), staff is not always present and essential medicines are not always available. But PTI developed an excellent policy to settle down these worst issues. PTI has taken innovative step by introducing and up scaling the Sehat Insaf Card Programme across Pakistan to provide access to quality healthcare to citizens, especially the poor. PTI government under the instructions of Imran Khan is ensuring that all the citizens must have coverage for a defined package of services, insured through a number of policy interventions such as public insurance for the poor, mandatory employee insurance etc. PTI government under the instructions of Imran Khan will double the size of the Lady Health Worker (LHW) programme to ensure each woman has access to complete package of LHW services (including family planning, pregnancy management, neonatal care), with adequate training, support and service structure for LHWs. Here again the PTI government under the instructions of Imran Khan will ensure the availability of diagnostic facilities, preventive and curative treatment for communicable diseases such as Hepatitis, Tuberculosis and HIV. PTI government under the instructions of Imran Khan wills for doubling efforts to increase vaccination coverage in provinces with lesser coverage (Baluchistan and Sindh in particular).
PTI government under the instructions of Imran Khan will increase number of 24/7 BHUs &RHCs equipped with basic package of services, staff and ambulance service to ensure each village has access to a facility within 10 km radius and reduce the burden on tertiary hospital. We will launch an incentive programme to attract more doctors, LHWs and nurses to BHUs, particularly in remote locations; it will establish training institutes for nurses and paramedical staff nationwide. PTI government under the instructions of Imran Khan will enhance focus on childhood nutrition, through LHWs and BHUs and it will invest in a referral system at BHU level, ensuring capture of adequate patient data, and efficient referrals to secondary & tertiary healthcare facilities. PTI government will upgrade secondary care facilities and enhance service delivery at Tehsil Head Quarter Hospitals & District Head Quarter Hospitals by ensuring provision of adequate equipment, specialist doctors and medicines. PTI government under the instructions of Imran Khan and will build state of the art hospitals in major urban centers to ensure the best healthcare facilities to the poor and it will encourage private sector participation and partnership to improve the service delivery standard of public health facilities. PTI will depoliticize hospitals, governed by autonomous professional boards. We will review and report on access and quality of service delivery at each facility through collection of regular data. PTI government under the instructions of Imran Khan will expand the capacity of the public healthcare system through additional capacity in existing facilities, making new facilities or public-private partnership.
Beside this this government will create a mental health policy and champion initiatives to promote and address mental health issues through improve service delivery and research. This is the real dream of great Imran Khan for the prosperity of Pakistan particularly in health sector. This program will turn over a new leaf and Pakistani people will see new Pakistan.
Writer: Syeda Iram Bukhari (Social Activist of PTI)
