KARACHI: Expressing concern over the rising disease burden in the country and the soaring costs of healthcare in Pakistan, experts at a program organised on Saturday called upon the government to focus on disease prevention and primary healthcare, which account for 70 to 80 per cent of people’s out-of-pocket health spending.

They also urged the public to adopt healthier lifestyle changes and consume food rich in vegetables and fruits while minimising meat and oil consumption.

They were speaking at the inaugural session of the 27th Biennial Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) Central Convention held at the Expo Centre.

The two-day convention is attended by healthcare professionals, scientists, vice-chancellors, and medical students from Pakistan and abroad.

Doctors at PIMA convention say access to potable water, proper sanitation vital to prevent waterborne diseases

Highlighting the healthcare challenges facing the masses in Pakistan, experts noted that access to quality medical care was becoming increasingly difficult for most people. Therefore, it is important to focus on disease prevention, which includes key measures such as vaccination programs and education campaigns to promote healthy lifestyles and screening for early detection of conditions like cancer and diabetes.

They also stressed the importance of ensuring access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation to prevent waterborne illnesses like cholera and diarrhoea, as well as the need for infection control in healthcare settings to minimise the spread of infections.

“Pakistani people are suffering from preventable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and diarrhoea, which can be avoided with simple lifestyle changes, clean drinking water, and timely vaccinations. Many lives could be saved with proper immunisation,” said Prof Teepu Siddique, a seasoned US-Pakistani neurologist, describing the growing burden of genetic and lifestyle diseases in Pakistan as “unbearable.”

He emphasised that in the absence of affordable treatment options, prevention is the only viable solution.

He advised the public to adopt a healthier lifestyle, recommending a diet rich in vegetables and fruits while minimising meat and oil consumption.

“Eat twice a day and share the third meal with someone who can’t afford to eat,” he added, emphasising the mental and physical benefits of such practices.

Prof Tariq Rafi, Chairman of the Sindh Higher Education Commission, lamented the lack of empathy in Pakistan’s healthcare system, despite the country’s medical colleges producing technically competent doctors. “Our medical institutions are producing good doctors, but they are not becoming good human beings,” he said, citing a prevailing “pharma-physician nexus” as a major problem.

Prof Rafi called for an expanded medical curriculum that includes bioethics and literature to foster greater empathy among future healthcare professionals.

Prof Atif Hafeez, representing PIMA, reiterated the need to prioritise prevention over treatment, noting that the majority of the population cannot afford healthcare services. “Scores of ailments can be prevented with simple precautionary measures, lifestyle modifications, and other interventions,” he said, echoing the overarching theme of the convention.

The inaugural session, moderated by Dr Abdullah Muttaqi, Chairman of the Organising Committee, also featured an address by Islamic scholar Khalilur Rehman Chishti, who joined from the United States via video link.

Mr Chishti urged the audience to pursue both religious and scientific knowledge, emphasising that historically, Islamic scholars were also masters in various fields, including the Quran, Hadith, philosophy, and the sciences.

“A well-rounded education, rooted in both religious and scientific thought, is necessary for progress in today’s world,” he said.

Former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza, delivered a sobering assessment of Pakistan’s healthcare system, noting that only one percent of the country’s GDP is allocated to healthcare, far below the recommended five percent.

“Most of the out-of-pocket spending by the public, around 70-80 per cent, is on primary healthcare, which should be part of the universal health coverage program,” he said.

At another key session, Asim Rauf, CEO of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan(DRAP), warned that strict actions would be taken against pharmaceutical companies involved in unethical marketing practices.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2024