HYDERABAD: Supreme Court Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali has said that the state is not able to cater to the health requirements of 78.71 per cent of its population, according to a safe analysis, which burdens poor people with such heavy expenses and aggravates poverty, besides creating other issues.

CJP Jamali was addressing the 15th convocation of the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) held on Saturday in its Latif Hall. He said those associated with medical universities and the health sector must pay attention to this very important issue. He also regretted presence of ‘ghost’ employees in the provincial health sector. He said it was the government’s prime responsibility to have legislation forthwith to address such issues.

CJP Jamali noted with concern that Pakistan missed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as it failed to control maternal and infant mortality rate, HIV/Aids, malaria and prevalence of other diseases. Citing a survey, he said the ratio of maternal and infant mortality in Pakistan was the highest in South Asia.

He observed that the country’s spending in the health sector was the lowest, i.e. just six per cent of the GDP.

The chief justice also noted a dearth of dental surgeons, physicians, specialists, paramedics, medicines, technical and health experts and other professionals in the health sector. “The overall health scenario is affected by a lack of investment and performance,” he observed.

He reminded the stakeholders that the “Constitution promises social and economic welfare of people, besides easy and expeditious justice under Article 37-D and 38”.

Health and justice are the professions which are not meant for income generation rather they are missions, according to him.

Speaking at the convocation, Governor Ishratul Ibad said that tremendous growth was seen in the public sector universities. He said Pakistan was currently facing difficult circumstances yet its education sector was delivering.

Securities agencies including the army were trying their level best to control the situation, he observed.

“It is really a difficult war because the enemy is invisible and the law enforcement agencies are eliminating them wherever they are found. The law enforcement agencies have given tremendous sacrifices which cannot be forgotten.”

LUMHS Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Noshad Shaikh said that people of Pakistan had resolved not to give up celebrating their festivals and other occasions and not to give up their right to higher education regardless of threats from terrorists.

He said that 358 MBBS, 93 BDS, 405 nursing and 55 postgraduate degrees and diplomas were being awarded at the convocation.

Besides, Dr Mahjabeen Memon, Dr Romana and Dr Sadia Shoukat were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively, for their outstanding performance in the MBBS while Dr Jazib Memon and Dr Abdul Qudoos received gold and silver medals, respectively, in the BDS while Dr Fatima Nizamuddin and Dr Kanchan Kumari shared the bronze medals.

Dr Mahajabeen and Dr Jaazib Memon were declared the best graduates of MBBS and BDS, respectively, and received seven gold medals each.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2016