The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has underscored the urgent need for bolstering the primary healthcare system in the country, diverging from the provincial government’s inclination towards investing in high-cost robotic surgery for tertiary care. The PMA, a representative body of medical practitioners, expressed reservations about the Sindh government’s initiative, insisting on prioritizing improvements in basic healthcare infrastructure across the province.
The PMA’s stance came into the spotlight amid a heated exchange between the Caretaker Chief Minister, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, and the Caretaker Health Minister, Dr. Saad Niaz, over the controversial robotic surgery initiative. The PMA, while acknowledging the importance of tertiary care, emphasized that the government’s primary focus should be on fortifying the foundation of the healthcare system.
The provincial government’s push for robotic surgery is motivated by the intention to provide the cutting-edge facility free of cost to the public. However, the PMA contends that a robust primary healthcare system is crucial to ensuring timely and adequate medical attention without resorting to expensive tertiary care.
The Caretaker Health Minister, Dr. Saad Niaz, vehemently opposed the idea of investing in robotic surgery, deeming it a wasteful allocation of resources. The PMA echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the primary healthcare system serves as the backbone of the health sector and currently caters to 70-80 percent of healthcare needs in Pakistan.
Regrettably, the primary healthcare system in Pakistan, especially in Sindh, faces challenges such as a lack of basic facilities and equipment. This inadequacy compels citizens to seek medical treatment at costly centers, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these shortcomings before diverting resources to tertiary care initiatives.
As the debate intensifies, the PMA’s call for prioritizing improvements in the primary healthcare system resonates, raising crucial questions about the allocation of resources in the pursuit of a healthier Pakistan.
