Being a minister doesn't mean that I will defend the health department or hide the facts: Sagheer Ahmed
Improvements in health outcomes are an important determinant of economic growth, as better human health leads to increased productivity, improved learning ability and reduced population growth rate. The government of Pakistan is committed to provide the best health services to all its citizens, but a closer look at health care utilization patterns indicates that only one third of the population utilize government health services. The remaining two thirds end-up seeking care from non-government, mostly private sector.Since, masses are interested to know regarding the ongoing and upcoming changes in the health sector therefore, Awaz Apni Online Exclusive organized an interview, with the Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed, who wants to provide the best medical facilities to people of rural areas, as are available to urban areas. He discussed the core issues. So, here we go.
Q: Why did you think of entering in politics, while you are a doctor by profession? A: Basically, from my college days I was associated with students' politics. I entered in politics before becoming a doctor. In 1988, when I was in 1st year, I was in the political ground. Nobody in my family was involved in politics. I like the vision and work of MQM and I know that what our party and we all are doing is for a cause or purpose. We want to rectify the system and settle down things.
Q: What was the response of your family when they heard that you are involved in politics?A: My family was shocked. Initially, they know, but I didn't tell everything to them and I moved on. My family's affiliation is also with MQM, but supporting a party is something different than being a worker or totally involved in politics.
Q: Do you believe that the government especially in the developing country like Pakistan, can shoulder entire burden of healthcare facilities alone or we can face the challenge of health only by partnership of government, the private sector, NGOs, the civil society and global health and development related organizations?A: Basically, people think that being a minister I will defend the health department or hide the facts, but I am not that kind of person, my observation is same as an ordinary man. It is the responsibility of the government. It should be observed and should be fulfilled by the government. Now, if I am a minister and I say that NGOs and different organizations should come forward is wrong. Government should take healthcare facilities as a core issue of their priority.
Q: Smoking is a big threat these days coming to the health sector, what are we doing to reduce the popularity of cigarette smoking or other addictions?A: It is written on the packet, that smoking is injurious to health by the health ministry, but if we talk about the advertisement regarding awareness, there should be autonomy sort of thing on the provincial side, so that you can deal with your problems or make documentaries to create awareness among people. But, if we are facing any health related issue we have to consult with the Federal Health Ministry because, they conduct it. Suppose, there is a problem of diarrhea, we ask the Federal Health Ministry to make a program on its adverse effects, but by the time they make program, there comes another disease. So, this is the main hurdle when we talk about smoking issue. Very seldom I see campaigns of anti smoking.
Q: You are a minister, how much your party affects your decisions?A: There is no dictation as far as MQM is concerned. Ministers should be very practical and work to resolve peoples' issues. I just work according to MQM's vision, but there is no sort of dictation.
Q: What are you doing to create awareness among the masses about the fatal diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis, etc in the country?A: To attract philanthropist for HIV or blindness or maternal child health or hepatitis, every department has different programs which are provincial and federal funded. The awareness campaigns or programs about HIV, hepatitis shown on TV are federally allocated and we mainly focus on these two diseases.
Q: The prices of drugs in Pakistan are very high. It is very difficult for a common man to afford these drugs. On the other hand, these drugs are pretty much affordable in neighboring countries like India. Why?A: Despite of inflation, India is managing, but here we could not deal with inflation. On this issue, there is legislation at the Federal government level under way and if once it is done, it will help to improve the system. This has been the hot topic of discussion from two, three days. If there will be legislation by the Federal government through proper act or ordinance, then it will help common people.
Q: What about advertisements of non-professional and unregistered doctors, hakims and homeopath doctors in newspapers. What measure the government and health department are taking to stop these ads?A: Certainly, government should ban it, but if we talk about the health department, we don't have any regulation for observing such fraud elements. We don't have set up or legal implication to check the degree or working of quack doctors. Home department can curb such things. In health sector there are already so many issues that we can't run after these things. The doctors in government hospitals are not willing to work, so how can we go after quack doctors? If our doctors work with zest, then a common man will get benefit from it.
Q: Are there any steps taken to curb the import and manufacturing and availability of spurious or counterfeit drugs?A: Alleged accused racket has been caught in this regard. We are taking action against these rackets, but I think two to three actions are not sufficient, we need to take more actions. Despite of hindrances and hurdles, we are trying to make it better. A big racket which was manufacturing cancer drugs and injections which cost 150000 was caught few days back, we just want to break the racket, and we want to bring legislation. I want that, if someone purchase medicine he/she should take the receipt from that particular chemist or dispenser so the retailer, wholesaler can be identified. We are launching a project of networking with IT ministry, in which there will be software through which we can stop this, because it will have details about the manufacturer, retailer and the chemist.
Q: When road accidents happen, people are very hesitant to help the victims due to strict medical legal laws. Do you have any plan to soften them? A: The rules are very simple now; if the patient comes the doctors have to attend him, without MLR. The patient will get treatment and by the time he recovers, then police can carry out their legal formalities. Now, even the media is extra efficient in covering such cases. They keep an eye and every single case is highlighted as the breaking news.
Q: What are you doing to improve the pathetic condition of the government hospitals?A: Basically, healthcare facilities have three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary. We have focused these levels in the budget this time. At tertiary teaching hospital level, we can't renovate the hospital at once; we work on schemes to facilitate wards. In Civil Hospital you can see newly built OT complex, CCU has been constructed and will be inaugurated soon. We are developing wards gradually. SIUT is doing good work and has been named as an institute, so we want to work accordingly. We are focusing on the different units, which are working well like surgical 5, ICUs and cardiac surgery ward. We want to initiate pediatric surgery wards. Former Minister of Health has streamlined health department and tried to make things better. We are missing pediatric surgery, thoracic surgery and pediatrician at the Burns Road. We have moved the encroachments away, which creates hurdles for the ambulances. If we talk about district headquarter hospitals, we are making it better through different schemes. Last time Sindh government and health ministry has signed MOU, with Sindh Rural Support Organization, we have given 10 districts under them, we provide funds to them and they have the authority to hire and fire and provide medicines. Now this year we are giving 13 districts to them. From the top to the deep down, we are trying to make system better. The basic problems are: shortage of doctors, paramedics, female doctors and medicines.
Q: Pakistan is the 6th most populated country in the world with a high growth rate. Are you planning any future strategy to improve the situation? A: We have a program 'National Program for Family Planning and Primary Healthcare'. We have lady health worker and visitors. They are doing both, family planning and immunization, but situation is not ideal, because in rural areas people create lot of hurdles in their work.
Q: Which admission policy do we follow in medical colleges? Do we still have quota system?A: There is open merit for medical colleges now. We have different policy for medical colleges. There are total 600 seats for Dow University, 900 seats for LUMS. Out of 600, 426 seats are on merit then, we have other allocations such as Pakistan Technical Assistance, self finance, reciprocal and disable. Reciprocals have 32 seats, Dow medical college has 16 seats and SMC also have 16 seats. 32 people from Karachi goes to four colleges of interior Sindh, PMC, NMC, Liaquat University and Ghulam Muhammad Medical College and 32 people from interior comes here, that's all you can term as quota.
Q: Why there are no restrictions on the imports, but many restrictions on the exports?A: You have a valid point and now that you have raised the issue, I will seriously look into it, as it is already under consideration.
Q: What percentage of the budget is allocated for the health sector this year? A: Provincial allocation was 8.6 billion last year, which have risen to 10.85 billion now, which is a raise of about 25%. When we talk about the overall allocation, including district and towns, we had 15.6 billion and now it has been raised to 18 billion. For the annual development program, it was 1200 million and now 2978 million with the raise of about 142%.
Q: Are you happy with this budget allocated for the health sector, and is it sufficient?A: Every sector will say that more budget should be allocated. Basically, health sector in under developed countries get 0.5 to 1% of the budget and nobody will term it sufficient, it should be raised to 7 to 8% but, I am happy with the improvement, we will try to get 4 to 5 % next time.
Q: What are your remarkable contributions in the health sector so far?A: The biggest contribution is significant budget allocation, which was my first priority when I took oath on 2nd May. The schemes which were incomplete, we are working on that and also on the utilization of last year's budget. In Civil Hospital we are shifting Neuro Surgery and Eye ward in Services General Hospital and we are initiating the old project of Trauma Centre. After two months, we will start this project. The building is in the last stage of construction, there will be 16 floors with helipad. CT scan MRI will be completed soon, which will be a laudable work in this province. We are making hospital at Gambat in Sindh as 'Gambat Institute'.
Q: To our information, on the provincial side no health policy has been made so far and federal health policy was written without any data. No data has been collected so far to make proper health policy. How the areas and its medical needs will be identified without proper policy. Are you planning to initiate in this regard?A: I am reviewing it but, it's a high time to work on other projects.
Q: Which things need to be focused at this point of time and what major problems are you facing? A: First of all people should understand the importance of health and the most agonizing and painful thing is favoritism or source culture. People come from villages and districts to be a doctor, but after completing their education, they don't go back to their hometown. If you are not devoted to your own hometown, then how can you justify yourself. In Pakistan if you want to do well, no one will let you do that. There are numerous problems in Pakistan; the bureaucracy is missing on every event, people are not aware and doctors are not willing to work. I am also a doctor by profession, but sorry to say that, white coats are not performing their duties well. If you visit any hospital, mostly you won't find any senior doctor. They even can't run their own units. Few names for instance Abdul Amin, Saeed Qureshi and Adeeb Rizvi are doing a remarkable job. Even in emergency, you won't find any doctor and then, if we take any action they call for strike, but we can't let the innocent people suffer because of the culprits. Abbasi Shaheed hospital's role was brilliant, in the last bomb blast and Baldia town building collapse. If everyone will settle in the urban centers who will look after the rural areas.
We hope that through the efforts of Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, we will witness a remarkable growth in the health sector. He is an intelligent gentleman striving to work for humanity. Aaj Online Exclusive is thankful to Dr. Sagheer Ahmed for taking out time from his busy schedule and for enlightening us with his thoughts. We wish him all the best. Readers gear up for the new issues, famous personalities and lot more happenings here on Aaj Online Exclusive. See you next time.
Q: What was the response of your family when they heard that you are involved in politics?A: My family was shocked. Initially, they know, but I didn't tell everything to them and I moved on. My family's affiliation is also with MQM, but supporting a party is something different than being a worker or totally involved in politics.
Q: Do you believe that the government especially in the developing country like Pakistan, can shoulder entire burden of healthcare facilities alone or we can face the challenge of health only by partnership of government, the private sector, NGOs, the civil society and global health and development related organizations?A: Basically, people think that being a minister I will defend the health department or hide the facts, but I am not that kind of person, my observation is same as an ordinary man. It is the responsibility of the government. It should be observed and should be fulfilled by the government. Now, if I am a minister and I say that NGOs and different organizations should come forward is wrong. Government should take healthcare facilities as a core issue of their priority.
Q: Smoking is a big threat these days coming to the health sector, what are we doing to reduce the popularity of cigarette smoking or other addictions?A: It is written on the packet, that smoking is injurious to health by the health ministry, but if we talk about the advertisement regarding awareness, there should be autonomy sort of thing on the provincial side, so that you can deal with your problems or make documentaries to create awareness among people. But, if we are facing any health related issue we have to consult with the Federal Health Ministry because, they conduct it. Suppose, there is a problem of diarrhea, we ask the Federal Health Ministry to make a program on its adverse effects, but by the time they make program, there comes another disease. So, this is the main hurdle when we talk about smoking issue. Very seldom I see campaigns of anti smoking.
Q: You are a minister, how much your party affects your decisions?A: There is no dictation as far as MQM is concerned. Ministers should be very practical and work to resolve peoples' issues. I just work according to MQM's vision, but there is no sort of dictation.
Q: What are you doing to create awareness among the masses about the fatal diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis, etc in the country?A: To attract philanthropist for HIV or blindness or maternal child health or hepatitis, every department has different programs which are provincial and federal funded. The awareness campaigns or programs about HIV, hepatitis shown on TV are federally allocated and we mainly focus on these two diseases.
Q: The prices of drugs in Pakistan are very high. It is very difficult for a common man to afford these drugs. On the other hand, these drugs are pretty much affordable in neighboring countries like India. Why?A: Despite of inflation, India is managing, but here we could not deal with inflation. On this issue, there is legislation at the Federal government level under way and if once it is done, it will help to improve the system. This has been the hot topic of discussion from two, three days. If there will be legislation by the Federal government through proper act or ordinance, then it will help common people.
Q: What about advertisements of non-professional and unregistered doctors, hakims and homeopath doctors in newspapers. What measure the government and health department are taking to stop these ads?A: Certainly, government should ban it, but if we talk about the health department, we don't have any regulation for observing such fraud elements. We don't have set up or legal implication to check the degree or working of quack doctors. Home department can curb such things. In health sector there are already so many issues that we can't run after these things. The doctors in government hospitals are not willing to work, so how can we go after quack doctors? If our doctors work with zest, then a common man will get benefit from it.
Q: Are there any steps taken to curb the import and manufacturing and availability of spurious or counterfeit drugs?A: Alleged accused racket has been caught in this regard. We are taking action against these rackets, but I think two to three actions are not sufficient, we need to take more actions. Despite of hindrances and hurdles, we are trying to make it better. A big racket which was manufacturing cancer drugs and injections which cost 150000 was caught few days back, we just want to break the racket, and we want to bring legislation. I want that, if someone purchase medicine he/she should take the receipt from that particular chemist or dispenser so the retailer, wholesaler can be identified. We are launching a project of networking with IT ministry, in which there will be software through which we can stop this, because it will have details about the manufacturer, retailer and the chemist.
Q: When road accidents happen, people are very hesitant to help the victims due to strict medical legal laws. Do you have any plan to soften them? A: The rules are very simple now; if the patient comes the doctors have to attend him, without MLR. The patient will get treatment and by the time he recovers, then police can carry out their legal formalities. Now, even the media is extra efficient in covering such cases. They keep an eye and every single case is highlighted as the breaking news.
Q: What are you doing to improve the pathetic condition of the government hospitals?A: Basically, healthcare facilities have three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary. We have focused these levels in the budget this time. At tertiary teaching hospital level, we can't renovate the hospital at once; we work on schemes to facilitate wards. In Civil Hospital you can see newly built OT complex, CCU has been constructed and will be inaugurated soon. We are developing wards gradually. SIUT is doing good work and has been named as an institute, so we want to work accordingly. We are focusing on the different units, which are working well like surgical 5, ICUs and cardiac surgery ward. We want to initiate pediatric surgery wards. Former Minister of Health has streamlined health department and tried to make things better. We are missing pediatric surgery, thoracic surgery and pediatrician at the Burns Road. We have moved the encroachments away, which creates hurdles for the ambulances. If we talk about district headquarter hospitals, we are making it better through different schemes. Last time Sindh government and health ministry has signed MOU, with Sindh Rural Support Organization, we have given 10 districts under them, we provide funds to them and they have the authority to hire and fire and provide medicines. Now this year we are giving 13 districts to them. From the top to the deep down, we are trying to make system better. The basic problems are: shortage of doctors, paramedics, female doctors and medicines.
Q: Pakistan is the 6th most populated country in the world with a high growth rate. Are you planning any future strategy to improve the situation? A: We have a program 'National Program for Family Planning and Primary Healthcare'. We have lady health worker and visitors. They are doing both, family planning and immunization, but situation is not ideal, because in rural areas people create lot of hurdles in their work.
Q: Which admission policy do we follow in medical colleges? Do we still have quota system?A: There is open merit for medical colleges now. We have different policy for medical colleges. There are total 600 seats for Dow University, 900 seats for LUMS. Out of 600, 426 seats are on merit then, we have other allocations such as Pakistan Technical Assistance, self finance, reciprocal and disable. Reciprocals have 32 seats, Dow medical college has 16 seats and SMC also have 16 seats. 32 people from Karachi goes to four colleges of interior Sindh, PMC, NMC, Liaquat University and Ghulam Muhammad Medical College and 32 people from interior comes here, that's all you can term as quota.
Q: Why there are no restrictions on the imports, but many restrictions on the exports?A: You have a valid point and now that you have raised the issue, I will seriously look into it, as it is already under consideration.
Q: What percentage of the budget is allocated for the health sector this year? A: Provincial allocation was 8.6 billion last year, which have risen to 10.85 billion now, which is a raise of about 25%. When we talk about the overall allocation, including district and towns, we had 15.6 billion and now it has been raised to 18 billion. For the annual development program, it was 1200 million and now 2978 million with the raise of about 142%.
Q: Are you happy with this budget allocated for the health sector, and is it sufficient?A: Every sector will say that more budget should be allocated. Basically, health sector in under developed countries get 0.5 to 1% of the budget and nobody will term it sufficient, it should be raised to 7 to 8% but, I am happy with the improvement, we will try to get 4 to 5 % next time.
Q: What are your remarkable contributions in the health sector so far?A: The biggest contribution is significant budget allocation, which was my first priority when I took oath on 2nd May. The schemes which were incomplete, we are working on that and also on the utilization of last year's budget. In Civil Hospital we are shifting Neuro Surgery and Eye ward in Services General Hospital and we are initiating the old project of Trauma Centre. After two months, we will start this project. The building is in the last stage of construction, there will be 16 floors with helipad. CT scan MRI will be completed soon, which will be a laudable work in this province. We are making hospital at Gambat in Sindh as 'Gambat Institute'.
Q: To our information, on the provincial side no health policy has been made so far and federal health policy was written without any data. No data has been collected so far to make proper health policy. How the areas and its medical needs will be identified without proper policy. Are you planning to initiate in this regard?A: I am reviewing it but, it's a high time to work on other projects.
Q: Which things need to be focused at this point of time and what major problems are you facing? A: First of all people should understand the importance of health and the most agonizing and painful thing is favoritism or source culture. People come from villages and districts to be a doctor, but after completing their education, they don't go back to their hometown. If you are not devoted to your own hometown, then how can you justify yourself. In Pakistan if you want to do well, no one will let you do that. There are numerous problems in Pakistan; the bureaucracy is missing on every event, people are not aware and doctors are not willing to work. I am also a doctor by profession, but sorry to say that, white coats are not performing their duties well. If you visit any hospital, mostly you won't find any senior doctor. They even can't run their own units. Few names for instance Abdul Amin, Saeed Qureshi and Adeeb Rizvi are doing a remarkable job. Even in emergency, you won't find any doctor and then, if we take any action they call for strike, but we can't let the innocent people suffer because of the culprits. Abbasi Shaheed hospital's role was brilliant, in the last bomb blast and Baldia town building collapse. If everyone will settle in the urban centers who will look after the rural areas.
We hope that through the efforts of Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, we will witness a remarkable growth in the health sector. He is an intelligent gentleman striving to work for humanity. Aaj Online Exclusive is thankful to Dr. Sagheer Ahmed for taking out time from his busy schedule and for enlightening us with his thoughts. We wish him all the best. Readers gear up for the new issues, famous personalities and lot more happenings here on Aaj Online Exclusive. See you next time.
