Measures being taken to ensure health care to all: Prime Minister

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Tuesday that the government has been making sincere efforts, and taking various steps, to ensure basic health care to everyone at their doorsteps. He was addressing the launching ceremony of 'Health Indicators of Pakistan--Gateway II', complied by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) 'Heartfile'.
It is a collection of data relating to health, published in the Economic Survey of Pakistan and reports issued by Statistical Division. The Prime Minister said all indicators, relating to health sector, had been showing upward trends. Appreciating the efforts of 'Heartfile' in compiling the data, he said that accurate data was must to prepare comprehensive policies for the benefit of the people.
He said that good health of the nation "is an essential ingredient" for the progress and prosperity of the country. Shaukat said that the government was concentrating on primary health care, especially in the rural areas, besides improving health facilities for urban areas.
The Prime Minister said that the budget for the health-sector has been increased three-fold and priority has been given to preventive health care. Referring to various challenges being faced by the government in the health sector, he said that hepatitis was one of the most serious challenges, and added that the government has been taking a number of steps to face this task through provision of clean drinking water.
He said that besides improvement of civic amenities, the government has also been providing treatment to hepatitis patients. He said that the number of Lady Health Visitors has been increased and their salaries have been enhanced--for the benefit of the people of rural areas.
Referring to rapid economic growth, the Prime Minister said that due to consistency of leadership and the policies, there has been improvement in the economy, and the government has been able to allocate more funds for all sectors including health and improvement of life of the people.
He said that the government is working to ensure peace of mind, good health and provision of all basic needs of life to the people in every corner of the country. The trickling effect of the improved economic growth to the people has started, he added.
He said the government is also working on poverty alleviation and he particularly referred to the data in the publication, which clearly indicated this success. The Prime Minister said that the government has increased the pro-poor budget.
He said that Pakistan is also committed to achieving Millennium Development Goals fixed by the United Nations. Shaukat said, "We are working for healthy, peaceful, vibrant and developed Pakistan with consistency of policies and with the help of continuity of the leadership."
Health Minister Muhammad Nasir Khan said that data in the publication showed improvement in all indicators relating to health. He said that the government is committed to improving health facilities for everyone and the budget for this sector has been increased. He said that with the right data the government could prepare right policies.
Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Salman Shah, Representative of World Health Organisation Rehana Bomaka and President of Heartfile, Sania Nashtar, also spoke on the occasion. Sania said that the 'Health Indicators of Pakistan' is collection of data available from various government departments.