THIS is with reference to the article `Privatisation of Healthcare` (Feb 28), which discussed Pakistan`s health insurance programme with a bit of scepticism. The phrase `privatisation`is a misnomer for a state-funded health insurance initiative.

The mere inclusion of private sector into healthcare services does not make the initiative `privatisation` as such. Nearly 70 per cent patients depend on private-sector health services, and a predominant majority of the remaining 30pc patients who visit public-sector facilities come from the most under-privileged sections.

Even among the 70pc population visiting private facilities, the majority can hardly bear treatment costs, of ten resulting in delaying the treatment process till complications force one`s hand. They also needed support from the state.

The argument that the government has settled itself into the role of a mere `funder`is also grossly misplaced. Over the last three years, Punjab has started work on the establishment of 23 new hospitals, with four of them all set to get functional within this year. Had the government been settling into role of a mere `funder`, it would not have hired 48,600 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in these three years. Hiring for another 25,000 staff is in the pipeline.

The government is not at all leaving healthcare to `market forces`. It has only sought support of the private sector to save lives. From Dengue to the Covid pandemic, the government has already been working in partnership with the private sector.

On its part, the government has worked out its long-term and short-term plans in detail based on critical evaluations of the shortcomings in various western models.

Punjab started health insurance coverage in 2019 and eventually moved on to cover the entire population, staring from Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions in June 2021. To date, Punjab has covered 81pc population and plans to cover the entire province by March 31.

Available statistics defy the premises that the public sector was `not delivering`. More people have sought cardiac treatment from public·.sector hospitals than those in the private sector, with 21,621 patients having availed cardiac treatment from publicsector hospitals compared to 17,496 at private-sector facilities. However, publicsector hospitals were hugely overburdened for dialysis treatment, and the private sector had to come forward and has shared nearly 80pc patient burden even though public-sector hospitals continue to provide uninterrupted dialysis services.

Being a signatory to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Pakistan cannot afford to be left behind when the better part of the world is fast moving on.

Spokesperson Punjab Minister for Health Lahore