KARACHI — Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has sought a ban on foreign treatment for public office holders as well as civil servants.
Secretary-General PMA-Centre, Dr S.M. Qaisar Sajjad in a statement on Wednesday said a mandatory provision must also be in place requiring public representatives to get themselves treated at government-run hospitals.
“This will definitely improve the delivery systems in the public sector hospitals,” the PMA said while also seeking an increase in the health budget of the country in accordance to WHO recommendations, that is equivalent to 6% of the total GDP.
Appreciative of concern expressed by Chief Justice of Pakistan about health delivery system in the country, Dr Qaisar said budgetary allocations were also needed to be efficiently utilized.
Emphasizing that the vast majority of doctors were highly skilled and capable, PMA official said the facilities at tertiary care hospitals as well as primary health care units could, however, be witnessed lacking even essential gadgets.
Even diagnostic facilities are not up to the mark, he said while reiterating the need for an efficient mechanism to contain pilferage in the projects and schemes aimed at ensuring quality care and treatment to the masses.
PMA was said to have been raising its voice for the last many years on issues related to health delivery system and medical education on the priority basis.
