LAILA SADAF
The World Health Organization (WHO) constitution defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. In ever advancing world, developed countries are developing cutting-edge medical treatments and inventing innovative procedures to treat patients of various chronic diseases and improve mental and social well-being. As a low and middle-income country with high inflation, Pakistan faces a new challenge in delivering sustainable health services to its people due to insufficient funding, poor healthcare infrastructure, and a lack of health workforce.
The recent political conundrum has further jeopardised the economic stability of Pakistan due to which the health care system has equally been hit by the lack of funds. The way political leaders interact with citizens could differ depending on priorities of the political parties in Pakistan, which drives key interlocutors and political motivations. The political context could also be an additional and significant variable for incapacitated healthcare system specifically in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, because different parties respond differently to the needs of citizens as per their personal or political interest.
Thus, the major challenge concerning KP right now is the lack of funds to manage the salaries of government employees working in government hospitals. It has been reported that more than 225 doctors, including medical officers, emergency medical officers and specialists, who were appointed by the government to improve patient care in theerstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), have not been paid salary for four months due to lack This has created further gap between providence of medical services and prospering healthcare sector in KP.
One of the most pressing healthcare concerns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the limited access to healthcare services, particularly to people residing in rural and remote areas. Many have to travel long distances to access basic medical facilities, and even when they do, the quality of treatment is often subpar. The primary health care facilities in northern rural areas like Dir, Swat, as well as tribal region including Waziristan are inadequate. There are staff shortages, particularly in the fields of Pathology and Radiology for women across the province. The inadequate equipment and essential medicinal products, vaccines, limited testing facilities in laboratories, and inadequate disposal of medical waste and refuse are some of the primary reasons for the lack of basic facilities.
Although Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had an edge overother provinces as Universal Healthof funds as per authorities’ stance. Coverage had already been implemented in the shape of Sehat Sahulat Program under which all 6.7 million families of the province were entitled to free health services. But due to the change in government, Sehat Sahulat card has been rendered useless in multiple hospitals across the province. As per the sources; the caretaker government has made changes to the Sehat Sahulat Card program and abolished the facility of free treatment for heart and gynecological patients in private hospitals of the province, due to which the influx of patients has been increased in government hospitals, resulting in an increase in financial and administrative responsibilities.
Furthermore, the healthcare infrastructure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faces several challenges, including a lack of proper facilities, medical equipment, and qualified healthcare professionals. Many healthcare facilities are understaffed and under-equipped, which directly affects the quality of care provided to patients. Rampant growth of quacks involved in illegal medical practices owing to insufficient healthcare facilities seems to be operating across the province. They are taking advantage of the limited number of public sector hospitals and insufficient number of doctors available to cater the increasing number of patients. Thus, there is a dire need of extended healthcare to facilitate poor patients as the affluent can easily afford treatment at private hospitals, in order to stop the corrupt practices of the health mafias.
This limited access to healthcare services and other prevailing challenges has profound implications for the socio-economic fabric of the region and its human development. When people cannot access timely medical treatment or preventive care, the prevalence of diseases tends to be higher, resulting in increased healthcare costs for individuals and families. Additionally, the inability to access healthcare services can lead to a reduction in productivity due to illness, thus perpetuating a cycle of poverty.
Individuals, specifically those belonging toturn, can perpetuate a cycle of poverty that affects a whole layer of population.
Health is a fundamental component of human social and capital development. The population that experiences poor health condition just like KP struck by Covid in recent years and due to a weak healthcare system may face limitations in human capital development.
During Covid temporary closure of businesses and industries has left the economy of KP in shambles.
Nations with advanced healthcare system breed healthy society and create opportunities not only for the progress of the individuals but as a nation have strong prospects to grow economically.
Therefore, KP government needs to focus its investments and energies more towards developing the healthcare system, especially in the remote rural areas.
