KARACHI: Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), expressing its satisfaction regarding peaceful polls in the country, has urged all political parties to immediately divert their attention towards public welfare and national interests.
PMA-Centre Secretary-General Dr Qaiser Sajjad, while talking to APP Thursday, felicitated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on its success in the general election and hoped that the party would accord top priority to quality education and health care for the people across the country.
“As a basic step in this regard, the immediate ban should be imposed on treatment abroad for all parliamentarians and government officials so that attention can be paid to raise the standard of services at local facilities,” said the senior medical activist and ENT surgeon.
Dr Qaiser Sajjad also requested the political parties forming governments in provinces to pay immediate attention towards basic health units (BHUs) and primary healthcare centres (PHCs).
“Urgent attention is needed and concerted efforts are required to promote the concept of curative care encompassing clean air, proper sewerage system and easy accessibility to potable water to prevent the eruption of diseases,” he said.
Professor Tipu Sultan, supplementing Dr Qaiser, said that urgent investment is needed on prevention of the diseases rather than curative side for which provision of efficient sanitation system and clean water must be accorded top priority to counter the frequent outbreak of waterborne diseases.
The two senior professionals, in reply to a question, were unanimous that there is also urgent need to raise the healthcare budget to a minimum 6 per cent of the total GDP of the country.
“Stringent mechanism is evolved for timely allocation and mandatory utilization of the fund,” said Dr Tipu Sultan.
