Role of CPSP in Health Sector

Pakistan is the 6^th largest state of the world having a huge flux of population living in rural and urban areas. The Federal Government of Pakistan, after taking her due share from NFC award, promise to fulfil the four major objectives i.e. security, education, health and sanitation. Unfortunately, only 1.5% of entire budget is allocated to health and sanitation which is insufficient. Secondly, the sanitary conditions are deplorable and the stagnant water absorbs 150 feet in the soil mixing up with clean water, which is spreading severe diseases. Owing to this poor sanitary condition W.H.O projected the idea of oral polio vaccination. Additionally, the number of doctors is less to tackle the problems of health. In Punjab only 1400 doctors qualify every year where as statistics show that every year 70, 000 babies are born in Punjab.

The infrastructure is undeveloped. The basic health units in rural areas are not equipped enough to better the falling health of rural populace. If there are well equipped hospitals, the availability of doctors is not ensured. Glaringly, the quacks are performing in every nook and corner of the country without any fear of accountability. The medicine companies are indulging in minting money with the help of dishonest persons, consequently killing many people. Less attention is given to sterilise the tools and to the transfer of blood without disease. The health sector plays an important role in any country’s economy. According to Pakistan economic survey 2006-07, “a healthy population is not only valued in its own right, but it also raises the human capital of a country thereby positively contributing to the economic and social development”. Therefore, a country’s investment in health sectors can have a long lasting effect on its prosperity. If a country’s labour is healthy, its productivity and economic development will automatically improve. “Ill being” and “ill health” is a multidimensional term covering not only disease but also other dimensions such as hunger, exclusion, isolation, insecurity and powerlessness. Health is a basic right of every citizen in every state. Unfortunately, the citizens of Pakistan are deprived of their health rights.

In Pakistan, the infrastructure of health sector is very strong which consists of Basic Health Units (BHU), Rural Health Centers (RHCs) and the District hospitals. The vast network of health care facilities consists of 5,349 Basic Health Units, 4755 dispensaries, 562 Rural Health Centers (RHCs), 945 hospitals, 903 maternal child health centers (MCHs) and 290 TB Centers (Existing Infrastructure of Health care in Pakistan, 2009) but functionally it is being left high and dry due to the lack of resources. Health indicators of our country are very poor. Pakistan ranks amongst the countries with the worst health indicators, though not startlingly, since our total expenditure on health as a percentage of the GDP remains amongst the lowest in the world: that is 2.0 per cent as compared to 5-14 per cent in developed countries. The effectiveness of any country’s health sector depends upon the budget owed to it. However, Pakistan only spent less than one percent of its gross national product (GNP) and less than four percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health care. Our country’s health sector is facing manifold challenges and hindrances. There are 5,308 basic health units (BHU) in our country, but mostly they are non-functional due to absenteeism of health personnel and doctors. Therefore, a major challenge faced by our health sector is corruption which includes unethical behaviour and malpractices with patients, illegal fees, corruption in the drug supply, scarceness and misallocation of resources, political influence, absence of concrete health policies, leaking of equipments and supplies, centralised financial, administrative and management authorities.
Moreover, our country is suffering from the increased burden of chronic diseases and disease stricken people. In addition to this, there is a shortage of health care professionals including nurses and doctors at all levels. However, it needs to be understood that PHC is not solely responsible for the lack of success in achieving health, but there is also a lack of commitment and dedication by health care personnel.

In Pakistan, the “Superior College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan” was established in 1962. Currently more than twenty two thousand experts are working as a specialist doctors in different medical institutions of civil and armed forces departments. This institution is a sole institution of the Pakistan which is conducted the examination of fellowship.  Currently more than twenty two thousand doctors within the country and 182 outside the country are under training in the supervision of supervisors of famous and registered institutions. Professor Zafar-Ullah Chaudhary is the president of the council of CPSP known by his excellent work for the improvement and success of the institution. Due the highly remarkable performance of the institution and specially servings of the Professor Khalid Masood Gondal who has written seventy eight thesis on medical education. In this regard he has given an award of “Tamgha-e-Imtiaz” by the president of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and, “Isqaraat Award’’ has also given in the ceremony of Science, Technology and Medical Education which was held in the Oxford Hall England. This award was received by the President CPSP Professor Zaffar-Ullah Chaudhary in the company of Professor Khalid Masood Gondal and Director Residency Program North Professor Amir Zaman Khan. On this occasion another ceremony was conducted by the High Commissioner of Pakistan in the honour of Pakistani Delegation and declared “CPSP” as an institution of identity of Pakistan.
Government of Pakistan must pay special focus on this type of institutions to fulfil their requirements like, financial and supervisory support. So these can play a vital role in the improvement of health sector and remedy against the problems of this sector. Moreover this institution is fulfilling their needs by themselves. So, the Government of Pakistan and Prime Minister Mr. Nawaz Sharif should take a serious action to sanction a good kind of budget so the future of the nation about health can perform very good results to enhance GNP level of our country.

In order to upgrade our health sector very crucial attention and steps needs to be taken by our government, public and private health sectors and by community people. Government should give keen attention towards allocating the health resource according to the principle of equity. It should not be directed towards urban population only but rural areas should also get access to quality health care services in order to improve their health status. Focusing on the golden rule of “Health is wealth”, the government of Pakistan should take appropriate measures for the betterment of health facilities in Pakistan. There should be strong policies with accurate implementation. The awareness programs should be managed to let the people know about the problems and remedies. There should be a strong determination for cleaning the surroundings of the rural as well as urban populace. From domestic to international level, a healthy society can fight against the evils of society and let the people free from the clutches of ignorance.
Moreover, community participation should be encouraged in all the aspects and at all levels so as to provide quality care according to community interests and to make all the programs successful. The Government should also keep in mind about the vision of our National Health Policy and work accordingly in minimising the finance for poor people, keep monitoring of the public sectors in order to reduce the corruption and increase the effectiveness of health services. Health care professionals should also work hard to work in the limited resources. Government should also work with proficient involvement with the private sectors of paramedics’ staff, nurses, doctor and pharmaceutical companies in providing quality care.