The cost of health

The recent shocking UN report which reveals that poor rural women have no access to basic healthcare facilities must serve as an eye opener for the authorities who have no regard for poor health of the majority. Only big cities of the country have both state-owned and private hospitals, while rural areas are deprived of even a single well-equipped health clinic.

Despite financial constraints, some people manage to travel to big cities to get treatment. However, the long list of test and high fee of doctors add more financial burden to them. Government hospitals – where treatment is free – are in a bad condition and do not have sufficient funds to accommodate a large number of patients. The government and NGOs should work together to bring healthcare facilities to rural areas.

Eruj Imad ( Karachi )