Dr. Shafqat Shezad, Research Fellow, Sustainable Development Policy Institute presented her paper on Proposing Health Sector Reforms for Maternal and Neonatal Health in Pakistan . She argued that Pakistan's current health system is failing while health sector reforms are being proposed and implemented in many other developing and developed countries. Deficiencies in Pakistan's public health sector is resulting in lack of improvement in health outcomes for children and women. Her paper proposed integrating public and private health facilities into an incorporated National Health System (NHS). The proposed National Health System (NHS) would have the features of a decentralized and participatorily managed public/private partnership, introduction of cost-sharing mechanisms with safety nets for the poor, integrated referral systems and emphasis on health maintenance. Dr. Shehzad reviewed the health policy documents at the national and provincial levels for improvements in maternal and neonatal health. She recommended linking health care system and policy to health outcomes and promotion of health of women and children through empowerment and poverty reduction.
Dr. Talib Lashari, Research Associate, National Health Policy Unit, Ministry of Health presented his paper on The impact of globalization on health in Pakistan: implications for health policy . He said that globalization has increased the health threats to a community, adding that global agreements, international market goods and movement of people across the borders directly impact the health conditions and services in a country. Lashari explained that the international agreements damage the public health sector through brain drain, unemployment, and death of traditional medicinal practices. He explained the effects of Sanitary & Phytosanitary measures (SPS), Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). He said that GATS poses a threat to our health as it provides for cross border delivery, movements, and presence of foreign personals and as of May 2005 Pakistan has allowed foreign investment in the health sector. He disclosed that TRIPS bars developing countries from manufacturing traditional medicines.
Dr. Hans Frey, Dr. Shafqat Shehzad and Mr. Irfan Haye co-authored a presentation on Role of Information and Communications Technology (ICTs) in Promoting Access to Health Services in Remote Mountain Areas of Pakistan. Dr. Hans Frey presented the findings of a model project that has been initiated by IDRC and COMSATS. Through this project, a tele-health centre has been established at Abdullah Hospital/Rahman Clinic, Skardu, where patients and doctors can consult medical specialists at COMSATS-Telehealth Resource Center, Islamabad, via e-mail/SMS-transfer of medical history and diagnostic reports and through video-conferencing. A Patient Information Management System (PIMS) has been introduced through which a patient's personal data is recorded and biomedical data forwarded to the medical doctor on a computer at the consultation room in Islamabad. Dr Hans Frey explained how the system works and also the technologies involved. The project has so far benefited approximately 500 patients. More work is in progress to collect information from patients on benefits of information technology for access and utilization of health care services, reduction in travel time and seeking expert medical advice from a distance. The initial feedback is that of a successful model with chances of replication in other areas through the use of information technology in health.
Dr. Sania Nishtar from HeartFile, chaired the session. Akbar Zaidi, a Karachi-based consultant, and she were the discussants for the session . Akbar Zaidi while discussing the papers questioned the cost effectiveness and sustainability of the project. He added that if the project is economically viable, the possibilities of replicating it in other remote areas should be explored. In her concluding remarks, Dr. Nishtar explained the challenges faced by the health sector in Pakistan and how improvements can be brought about through a change in system and management. She said that the provision of health care is the prime responsibility of the government, but due to inefficiencies and lack of resources, public sector alone can't meet the challenge of health coverage for all, hence, the need for reforms and more active public private partnership for improvement in the health profile.
Reported by Mohammad Shah Farrukh
| Email Article |  |
Print Article | |
Next Article |
PDF Format
