It’s hard to believe that in a poor country like Pakistan, now every family in Punjab can get free treatment amounting to one million rupees per annum from any health facility under the health insurance programme launched by the PTI government. No doubt, this alone is a great achievement of Prime Minister Imran Khan and he deserves a lot of credit for this initiative. The issuance of a health card and asking the masses to get treatment at any hospital of the province look like an easy way forward to tackle health issues, however, there are still a lot of concerns that need to be addressed by the government for earning people’s trust. What about health infrastructure, provision of medicines, attitude of health staff, young doctors’ concerns, non-availability of proper health facilities in far off areas, availability of finances for this initiative, and last but not the least government’s ability to come to its words about the proper implementation of the health insurance system. These matters require proper planning and constant monitoring by the government. A check and balance system needs to be implemented through the establishment of a dedicated health desk at every hospital.
Currently, the healthcare sector is in shambles and not being paid proper attention. Pathetically, Pakistan has been suffering from the worst kind of health anomalies, which have not been removed so far. It is very unfortunate that in developed cities, basic health facilities are not available at public hospitals while young doctors go on strikes on a regular basis. The non-availability of proper healthcare facilities in the country is a terrible phenomenon that adds to the ordeal of patients and injured persons alike. Government hospitals present deplorable picture in common days. A lot more needs to be done to improve conditions and infrastructure of healthcare and hospitals nationwide. Government hospitals especially lie in dilapidated states with shoddy infrastructure and facilities. Staff is ill-trained, over worked and paid ridiculously low wages, and life-saving machines and modern facilities are a pipedream. A complete overhaul of the system is required to end the misery of the common man in Pakistan.
