Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) in its annual recommendations for the year 2011 has suggested raise in the budgetary allocations for health sector by a minimum six percent of the GDP. Professor Tipu Sultan, Honorary President PMA-Center, sharing details of the recommendations with APP on Friday said emphasis has also been laid on a pragmatic approach towards prevention oriented health policy.
"This is high time to focus towards prevention and control of ailments on strong lines," he said. The senior physician said the fact that under five mortality rates is 95.2 per 1000 while for neonates is 65.1 per 1000 are some of the harsh realities that could not be ignored.
Professor Sultan attributed vast majority of these deaths to unavailability of potable water and absence of sanitation facilities to the larger population of the country. He said PMA has also requested for immediate interventions to protect environment against pollution caused due to rickety vehicles and absolute disregard towards natural and green habitation.
Serious concern has also been registered against poor implementation of anti-smoking laws and easy availability of hazardous food items, he said. The president PMA said cancers and wide range of severe infections consequent to pollution is an emerging health threat that cannot be ignored. In reply to a question, he agreed that nutritional status of masses particularly children and women needed to be improved through cost effective and simple techniques. "Malnourishment is an equal threat to physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of our people," he said.
"PMA, not only demands easy availability of quality food at cost effective rates but also expects a strategy to educate masses about right choice of food," he said in answer to another question. PMA in its annual recommendation forwarded to the government has also urged for immediate steps to improve the ongoing vaccination programmes against some six contagious diseases.
Why is it that 7.78 percent of our one-year children continue to be inflicted with tuberculosis while measles, polio also persists, he enquired. He also referred to threat of rabbis kids in rural and urban slums are constantly exposed to. "PMA feels that masses must be extensively involved to improve their health status through effective and efficient educational programmes," Professor Tipu Sultan said. The president PMA said besides medical community the electronic media must realise its responsibility towards the public wellbeing in its actual sense.