KARACHI  - The Sindh government has failed to implement the Healthcare Commission Bill 2013 in the province.
The health experts and the leaders of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) have shown concern over the lethargic behaviour of the provincial government and Sindh Health Department towards the implementation of the healthcare bill in Sindh.
They have linked the recent incident in which more than nine new born babies died in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to inadequate facilities at Shah Neonatal Children Hospital.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah have taken the notice of the incident and directed the Sindh Health Department to inquire about the incident.
The health experts are of the view that the implementation of the bill is necessary to get the health care system of the province on the smooth way. They are hopeful that the healthcare bill, which is completely patient-friendly, will certainly put an end on the practice of quackery in the medical field that plays with the life of patients.
The Healthcare Commission Bill 2013 was approved in Sindh Provincial Assembly in the beginning of the ongoing year.
PMA central leader Dr Qasier Sajjad said that medics had frustrated as the present healthcare systems was being worst day by day, but the government intended not to enforce this bill. He said patients were our teachers and through this bill we will protect them and at the same time it will not be possible for people to exploit doctors, he said.
He said: “The overall health situation has not changed in Pakistan in last many years. It may be claimed that more money is being spent on the health of the nation as compared to previous years but the fact is that the majority of our population has no access to primary healthcare, emergency obstetrical care or emergency healthcare throughout Pakistan.”
According to figures quoted by international and national agencies, the population of Pakistan has soared to more than 173 million. At least a third of the population is living below poverty line. We have an annual fertility rate of 3.6 per cent with a life expectancy of 63.6 years for men and 65.4 for women.
Prof Idrees Adhi, who played vital role in the drafting of the bill, said that he said that the bill will help the authorities concerned in reducing the violence against the doctors during their practices.
He said the bill would protect doctors in the community and would also help those patients who were exploited by ‘doctors’ and practices of the commercial hospitals.