The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) on Monday announced its health vision for the upcoming general elections, pledging to raise the health budget from 0.8 percent to 2.8 percent, establish a health equity fund for the poor, and to enhance health coverage by 100 percent in five years.
PTI leaders Dr Yasmin Rashid and Dr Hamayoun Mohmand presented the health policy at a press conference. Speaking on the occasion, they said that the PTI was the first political party to introduce a proper health vision, which focused on improving the healthcare system across the country and to make it cost effective for those living below the line of poverty.
They also announced to shift the Health Ministry from provincial to district levels, and to extend the financial support and resources for improving healthcare at district level. They said the basic health units (BHUs) would be given under the supervision of local governments instead of the provincial government, besides vowing to introduce measures to bring at least 50 percent decrease in pregnancy-related deaths.
Giving statistical figures, Mohmand said that every year 3.6 million infants add to the country’s population, while infant mortality rate stands at 61.27 deaths per 1,000 live births. He said that newborn deaths account for 57 percent deaths in children under the age of five. He said that around 100 million Pakistanis were deprived of sewerage or drainage system, and as many others were facing food insecurity.
Dr Yasmin Rashid said that under PTI’s five-point health policy, her party would take emergency measures to meet the 40 percent shortage of doctors and 80 percent shortage of nursing staff.
Addressing the participants, PTI Chairman Imran Khan reiterated his commitment to implement health reforms after coming into power. He said that despite continuous increase in the prices of drugs, the cost of tranquilizers and others identical medicines to cure winter-related illnesses had gone down because of the issuance of illegal ephedrine quota. Imran said the Shaukat Khanam Hospital was spending Rs 2 billion annually on public health care facilities, providing 70 percent of treatment “free of cost”.
Speaking about the violence on “Love for Prophet (PBUH) Day”, the PTI chief said that the anti-US sentiment among the general public, and the frustration in the lower classes of the society were the main reasons for the protests turning violence. Criticizing President Asif Ali Zardari, Imran asked how rule of law could be imagined in a country where the “biggest criminal and robber” becomes the president of the country, adding that his party would not let the criminals claim public office.
Hitting hard on the Sharif brothers, Imran said that despite having funds worth Rs 500 million, the Punjab government had failed to construct a hospital, whereas the PTI had introduced a project for constructing Shaukat Khanam Hospital worth Rs 700 million with only Rs 10 million in hand. Khan also made a commitment that after introduction of health, economic and energy policies of his party, policies in other sectors would soon be announced.
PTI announces its health vision for upcoming polls
