Decent healthcare system first priority.

Byline: SHABBIR KAZMI

The healthcare delivery system in Pakistan consists of public and private sectors. Under the constitution, health is the primarily responsibility of the provincial governments. Health care delivery has traditionally been jointly administered by the federal and provincial governments with districts mainly responsible for implementation.

Service delivery is being organised through preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services. The curative and rehabilitative services are being provided mainly at the secondary and tertiary care facilities. Preventive and promotive services, on the other hand, are mainly provided through various national programmes; and community health workers' interfacing with the communities through primary healthcare facilities and outreach activities.

The state provides healthcare through a three-tiered healthcare delivery system and a range of public health interventions.

Some government/semi government organisations like the armed forces, parastatals such corporates, WAPDA, Railways and the Employees Social Security Institution provide health service to their employees and their dependents through their own system which collectively cover about 10 per cent of the population.

The private health sector constitutes a diverse group of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, traditional healers, drug vendors, as well as laboratory technicians, shopkeepers and unqualified practitioners.

Public sector health care system endeavours to deliver healthcare through a three level healthcare delivery system and a range of public health interventions. The first level includes Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs) founding the fundamental of the primary healthcare model, secondary care encompassed first and second referral facilities providing acute, ambulatory and inpatient care through Tehsil Headquarter Hospitals (THQs) and District Headquarter Hospitals (DHQs) and tertiary care including teaching hospitals.

The public health activities have persistently increased in terms of physical infrastructure and workforce. The national health infrastructure comprises of 1201 hospitals, 5518 Basic Health Units, 683 Rural Health Centres, 5802 Dispensaries, 731 Maternity and Child Health Centres and 347 TB Centres, and the total availability of beds in these health facilities is estimated at 125,000. In addition more than 95,000 Lady Health Workers are providing primary health care services to the...