Review of Govt steps for health facilities.

Byline: S. Kamal Hayder Kazmi

According to the statistics published in Pakistan Economic Survey, socio-economic factors such as health, education, income, employment etc., are closely interlinked with Human Development Indicators (HDI).

Pakistan has recorded improvement in health indicators over the previous 3-year. Life expectancy is grown from 66.9 years in 2017 to 67.3 years in 2019, but is still behind in the region. The infant mortality rate, maternal mortality and population growth rate have been declined during the previous 3-year.

Health Indicators Of Pakistan

Details###2015###2019

Maternal mortality Ratio (per 100,000 births)###276 (2006)###189

Neonatal mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)###45.2###41.2

Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births)###62.1###55.7

Under-5 mortality rate (per 1,000)###76.1###67.2

Incidence of tuberculosis (per 100,000 people)###270###263

Incidence of HIV (per 1,000 uninfected population)###0.1###0.12

Life expectancy at birth, (years)###66.6###67.3

Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total)###58###68.0 (2020)

Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15-49)###32.0 (2014)###34

The experts recorded that in order to make substantial progress on Goal 3 of Sustainable Development Goals (Good Health and Wellbeing), the present Government of Pakistan has given priority to strengthen health sector to more resolve and address the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. Improved effective coverage of skilled birth attendants, enhanced public sector health facilities, increased number of Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) equipped with essential services are the reflection of these priorities.

To enable effective family planning, pre- and post-pregnancy care and neonatal care, the Lady Health Workers (LHW) programme revitalized by adequate training, support and a revised service structure. Statistics showed that the country's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has fallen from 62.1 deaths per 1,000 live births during 2015 to 55.7 during 2019, while Neonatal Mortality Rate declined from 45.2 deaths per 1,000 live births during 2015 to 41.2 during 2019. Statistics showed that percentage of birth attended through skilled health personnel is grown from 58 percent in 2015 to 68 percent in 2020 (PSLM, 2019-20).

Maternal Mortality Ratio declined from 276 maternal deaths per 100,000 births in 2006, to 189 during 2019. No doubt, the present Government of Pakistan is committed to raise its...