‘Pakistan’s situation critical at human resources for health’

LAHORE : As the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines the critical benchmark for minimum levels of Human Resources for Health (HRH) as 4.45 per 1,000 population, Pakistan’s situation is precarious vis-à-vis HRH figure that stands at 1.45 per 1,000 population.

There are 94,179 doctors and dentists registered with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) in Punjab, 64,846 nurses, 44,452 lady health workers (LHWs) and 1,799 lady health supervisors in the province. Punjab, with a population of 110 million, faces a critical deficit of HRH.

This was stated during a dialogue on “Human Resources for Health – Policy Implications” arranged by Punjab Public Health Agency under its Policy Roundtable Series, according to a handout issued here on Saturday.

Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir, Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Secretary Najam Shah, Planning and Development Member Health Dr Shabana Haider and eminent public health professionals were attended the roundtable discussion. The discussion proceeded to highlight existing challenges and the required policy interventions to improve the Human Resources for Health (HRH) situation in the province.

Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir apprised the audience of the recent interventions undertaken by the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department.

Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Secretary Najam Shah stressed that there was a need to optimise the existing infrastructure, resources and expertise across institutions for the benefit of the people at large.

hospitals’ performance: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir has said the average number of the patients visiting the OPDs of district and tehsil headquarters hospitals daily have exceeded 4,000 due to the provision of free treatment facilities and medicines to them.

He said this while addressing the monthly meeting of medical superintendents of the district and Tehsil headquarters hospitals on Saturday, according to a handout issued here.