National Health Policy to meet MGDs: Gilani
KARACHI, April 22 (APP):  Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Friday that the effective and sustained implementation of the National Health Policy 2010 would go a long way in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs).The National Health Policy incorporates key priorities such as family planning, maternal and child health, workforce development and meeting the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, he said while speaking at the inauguration of the newly expanded and renovated Accident and  Emergency Department of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) here.Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul- Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Parliamentarians, CM’s Special Assistant Waqar Mehdi, Sindh Chief Secretary Abdus Subhan Memon were also present on the occasion.
Prime Minister Gilani said that the National Health Policy  has been formulated on the basis of  recommendations by the Health Policy Task Force in consultation with all key stakeholders.
The  Prime Minister said that the health sector has traditionally been a neglected area and it did not receive the  attention it rightfully deserved. The vast vacuum  existing between policy decision-making and operational levels impacted adversely upon the delivery of health related services.
The systematic flaws of our mixed health infrastructure  resulted in wastage of resources, duplication of work and inability of health institutions responsible for spearheading the reform agenda.
The broader structural dimensions such as decentralisation, efficiency, economical use of resources and mechanisms of social protection were also ignored, he remarked.
Prime Minister Gilani said that  in 2008, he had ordered the establishment of a Health Policy Task Force to design institutional response to the problems of the health sector.
He announced an additional grant of Rs 55 million for the remaining work of  the on- going renovation and expansion project of JPMC for taking this immense project to a logical conclusion.
He said the abolition of the Concurrent List from the Constitution after the unanimous passage of the 18th Amendment and historic adoption of the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award has empowered the provinces politically, administratively and financially.
Health and Education are now purely provincial subjects and it is for the provinces to rise to the occasion and make the difference through innovative methods of implementation of policies, the Prime Minister said.
“I would like to urge the provinces to focus on building their capacity for effective delivery of health services at the grassroots level, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said.
Quoting the Quaid-e-Azam’s message at Eid-ul-Azha on October 24, 1947 the Prime Minister read “Let us mobilise all our resources in a systematic and organised way and tackle the grave issues that confront us with grim determination and discipline worthy of a great nation.”
Referring to the demand of JPMC staff for maintaining the status of the hospital as an autonomous body under the federal government, he said that he will ask the Chairman Implementation Commission Senator Raza Rabbani to visit the federal hospitals and discuss the issues with the Chief Minister, Governor and the administration.
He appreciated the efforts and services of Executive Director JPMC Tasneem Ahsan and incharge of Emergency Department Dr. Seemi Jamali for achieving the goal of making the best and biggest A & E department in a public sector institution in this country.
He said the Hospital has lived up to the expectations of people by responding to the health-related challenges, which should be encouraging for the management and staff of the JPMC.
Of late, Karachi, the financial hub of Pakistan, has witnessed the recurring incidents of terrorism and terrible bomb blasts.  The Hospital and its staff have commendably responded to the challenge of tending to the injured and thus added a glowing chapter of dedicated service, he said. “The people of Karachi are rightfully proud of you,” Prime Minister Gilani said.