Achi news desk-
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said on Thursday that the World Federation of Medical Education’s recognition of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) is a testament to Pakistan’s commitment to excellence in healthcare and medical education.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint News / Pakistan Point – 28th Mar, 2024) Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said on Thursday that Pakistan Medical Education Federation’s recognition of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) is a testament to Pakistan. commitment to excellence in health care and medical education.
“The biggest indicator of an effective health care system is to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their socio-economic background, get the best health facilities available in a timely, acceptable, affordable and accessible manner,” he said while addressing a ceremony held to commemorate a stone a significant mile. in the history of medical education and health care in Pakistan.
The minister praised the joint efforts of healthcare professionals, educators, policy makers and stakeholders who worked tirelessly towards improving the standards of medical education and healthcare delivery in Pakistan, a news release said.
Highlighting the notable progress of Pakistan’s healthcare sector over the past decade, the minister shared that a 3.5 percent increase in life expectancy between 2005 and 2019 has been recorded.
In the area of ​​infant mortality, he said a 15 percent reduction had been recorded between 2000 and 2019, with an infant mortality rate of 58 per 1,000 live births.
A remarkable increase was also seen in the number of healthcare facilities, which increased to 20 and from 2007 to 2017, resulting in a total of 7,089 healthcare facilities.
Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the need for a concerted effort by all stakeholders to achieve the country’s road map for health, which aimed to bridge disparities in healthcare access among the poor, expand healthcare services and make universal healthcare a possibility for all citizen.
“Doctors play a vital role in strengthening the ability to advocate for more government funding and better working conditions in public health facilities,” said the minister.
One of the main challenges is to reduce differences in access to healthcare across all socio-economic groups, as shown by the fact that the poorest 20 per cent of the population use only 13 per cent of healthcare services .
Citing examples from developed countries, the minister urged Pakistan to take lessons from Singapore and Japan for prioritizing preventive measures, Norway and Estonia for using telemedicine, Canada and New Zealand for negotiating drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, and Germany and the Switzerland for compulsory health insurance for all citizens.
Pakistan’s commitment to addressing health care challenges, such as rural health care, health equity, and the shortage of medical professionals, stems from an urgent need to transform the current health care system.
The minister expressed confidence in the government’s commitment to follow a carefully planned approach that will ensure raising awareness, improving access, and using data for health-related decisions.
He congratulated PMDC for being accredited by the World Federation of Medical Education and subsequently paving a brighter future for medical education in Pakistan.
