Vigilant regulatory authorities stressed to improve health delivery system

PESHAWAR: Speakers at a function here stressed a vigilant role for relevant regulatory authorities to improve the health delivery system and provide relief to the people.

They were expressing views at a monthly session of the Shoora-e-Hamdard, which was titled “The health sector and public problems.”

Keynote speaker was Dr Sharif Ahmad Khan, a former director general, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Services.

A noted cultural activist and Chairman of the Shoora-e-Hamdard, Dr Salahuddin, presided over the session.

The main speaker believed that unfortunately the health sector never remained a priority with the successive governments and this was the reason that proper attention was not given to solve the problems associated with this field.

Dr Sharif Ahmad Khan pointed out that the basic health structure was very much there along with required manpower and equipment. The lack of due consideration by the pertinent quarters was the issue, he went on to add.

The former Health Department head said that Basic Health Units (BHUs) were not as functional as were expected. He said doctors did not perform duties regularly at the BHUs.

The speaker said that there was a need to strengthen the referral system, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and generally in the country.

“This will lessen the burden on the teaching hospitals which continues to increase,” he said while elaborating on his statement.

Dr Sharif Ahmad Khan said a great rush of patients at the teaching hospitals negatively affected the functioning of these facilities, on the one hand, and adversely impacted the national budget, on the other.

The house was open to discussion after the speech by the main speaker. The Shoora-e-Hamdard members commented on the issues linked to the topic. They made suggestions as well to improve the situation.

The discussants complained that the doctors employed at the state-run health facilities showed dereliction of duties. They said medics gave more attention to own private clinics than the jobs they were paid for from the exchequer.

The Shoora-e-Hamdard members believed that the health delivery system at the government facilities would improve if the different regulatory authorities concerned made for the purpose were motivated to carry out vigorously the functions assigned to them.

The function was attended by people from various walks of life. Among them were Professor Dr Nasiruddin Azam Khan, Professor Dr Dost Muhammad, Malik Liaquat Tabassum, Sardar Farooq Ahmad Jan Babar, Dr Zakir Shah, Roshan Khattak, Abdul Hakeem Kundi, Syed Mushtaq Hussain Shah Bukhari and Ghazala Yousaf.