Govt urged to allocate more funds for public health

LAHORE:Stakeholders in healthcare services, including representatives of doctors, pharmacists, NGOs as well as politicians, have urged the government to change its budget priorities and allocate more funds for public health.

A meeting of the stakeholders held here Wednesday demanded the government cut non-development expenses and refuse repayment of foreign debts and the funds thus spared should be diverted towards the public health and education system.

They opposed any form of privatisation of the health sector and instead sought building of more new hospitals, medical colleges and nursing schools to meet healthcare requirements of the growing population. The participants also demanded that medicines be marketed under generic names instead of branded products to reduce their prices. Those who joined the meeting organised by Labour Education Foundation included Dr Tehsin Azhar from the PMA, Dr Kalimullah from Pakistan Pharmacists Association, Mohsin Khan from the Punjab Druggists Association, Muhammad Usman from Young Pharmacists’ Association, ruling PMLN leader chairman of Soch (a think-tank) Muhammad Mehdi and others.