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| Dire conditions of patients in hospital |
Health is the basic need and right of every human being. The government is responsible for providing health facilities to its public without any distinction or discrimination. Pakistan has a poor record in providing its citizens with health facilities. This is evident from the amount of money dedicated to the health sector in the national budget. Pakistan has a substantially low allocation of the Gross Domestic Product to its health sector, amounting to 22.4 billion Rupees. Efforts must be made to cope with the challenges in the health sector.
Some of the major problems that we are facing in the health sector are given below.
1. Low allocation of budget
Though this year 22.4 billion Rupees have been allocated to the health sector, which is much greater than the previous year allocation of 11.2 billion Rupees but still a lot has to be done in this sector.
2. Poor sanitation condition
Poor sanitation is a major problem, particularly in the rural areas. This causes the spread of many diseases at an alarming rate. The spread of Dengue fever is an example of the threats we face from poor sanitation system.
3. Unavailability of doctors
In Pakistan, the ratio of doctors to patients is very low. This is one of the major causes that the death rate is increasing in Pakistan.
4. Poor management
Poor management both at the government level and hospital level is another hurdle in our efforts to provide basic health facilities to our people.
5. Monopoly of companies
Some companies have created their own monopoly in the health sector. They bribe doctors and ask them to prescribe the medicines of the company to the patients. Low moral characters of our doctors compelled them to do such things for material benefit. This is severely damaging the health of our general public.
6. Corruption
Corruption is the root cause of all the problems that we are facing. Corrupt doctors don’t give people their due attention in government hospitals and ask them to come to their owned private hospitals. This is not only causing wastage of money but a huge loss of state budget as well.
7. Bad drinking water
Water is one of the major reasons of growing hepatitis problem in many people. The majority of the people don’t have access to fresh and pure water ultimately resulting in health problems.
8. No regulation of industrial and agriculture sector
There are no rules for industrial and agriculture sectors in their disposals of waste products and chemicals etc. This disposal of waste products is creating huge problems of health both at rural level and urban level.
9. Quakes
Most of the rural population cannot go to a specialized doctor because of the fees one has to pay to them. This compels these poor people to find an alternative and this alternative is the availability of quake-doctors at the rural level without checks and balances.
10. Medicines
Most of the medicines in our country are not standardized. This is causing health problems instead of removing them.
11. No sterilization of tools
Tools used in our health sector are mostly contaminated and the government didn’t have any system through which it should be checked. This is causing the spread of dangerous diseases like cancer etc.
12. Overpopulation
Overpopulation is also a major hurdle in our journey towards a healthy nation. Overpopulation limits the resources of the state to spend on its people.
13. Religious myths
Some so-called conservative minded people who are unaware of the true teachings of Islam are creating confusions in the minds of common people regarding family planning and other such measures.
Solutions to these problems
1. Allocation of budget
The budget should be increased in order to deal with this challenge. Devolution of power to the provincial governments is a good step but should be carefully watched, not to confuse the whole system.
2. sanitation condition
Sanitation system in our country is the worst of all. Open gutters and ponds can be seen everywhere. The government should involve local community to fill up the gaps at the grass root level.
3. Increasing the number of doctors
The government should remove this system of limited seats in medical colleges to deal with the shortage of doctors.
4. Improving the management
Management should be improved both at government and hospital level. This can be achieved by giving some level of freedom to hospitals in their internal system but with a proper check and balance system.
5. Monopoly of companies
The government should put an end to the monopoly of some companies by providing a free and transparent system. Companies should not be allowed to deal with doctors and whoever do such deals shall be punished harshly.
6. Corruption
Corruption is a menace which should be routed sooner than later.
7. Bad drinking water
Filtration plants should be installed especially in rural areas to provide safe drinking water.
8. No regulation of industrial and agriculture sector
There should be proper laws and regulations for these two sectors, which prohibit them from releasing poisonous wastes in the water and air.
9. Action against Quakes
Strict should be taken against all quakes and hakeems etc. They should be brought into the court of law and should be punished.
10. Medicines
Medicines should be made available in the hospitals and those selling fake medicines should be made an example for others.
11. Sterilization of tools
Doctors must be bound not to use contaminated tools both in government and private hospitals.
12. Overpopulation
The government should aware general public of the safe methods for family planning. Recreational facilities should be established to keep them busy to divert their attention of sexual pleasures.
13. Religious myths
Islam is a progressive religion and keeps on with the time. The myths introduced by some of our religious scholars in the Islam should be dealt with counter-narrative.
14. Media campaign
Media is an important tool in modern awareness campaigns. Our government should use this instrument for the good of the people. Health-related programs should be broadcasted to increase awareness among the masses.
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