World Health Day In Pakistan
World Health Day In Pakistan: Today on the 7th of April the World Health Day is observed all around the world. The global health awareness day will be celebrated today under the theme “Universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere” with the slogan of “Health for All”.
World Health Day this year coincides with two special events one is the 70th anniversary of the establishment of WHO and the 40th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care. On the occasion of World Health Day 2018, and as part of regional celebrations, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean will host a panel discussion on universal health coverage, focusing on vulnerable and refugee populations.
Universal Health Coverage Means
In low income countries, good health provisions will mean that people will not have to pay for the costs of their health care. Almost 100 million people in Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), where Pakistan also falls, are being pushed into extreme poverty, forced to survive on just US$ 1.90 or less a day, because they have to pay for health services out of their own pockets.
Pakistan is also celebrating the day to create global awareness in public about various health issues under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as other related organizations. WHO is founded on the principle that it is the right of everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health.
Health Insurance Scheme In Pakistan On World Health Day
On world health day Pakistani experts have iterated the importance of innovation given the overall low penetration of life and health insurance in Pakistan and the bulk of life and health clubbed with credit products.
Health Insurance scheme can improve Universal Health Care program of WHO. Today, the KPK government has approved extension of Solid Waste Management Company, Rescue 1122 and CM Health Insurance Scheme to Hunza and Nagar districts to facilitate the masses.
There are 3 important dimensions of the UHC.
- One is a geographic access, which means healthcare should be within reach and people shouldn’t have to walk or drive miles on end to reach a healthcare facility.
- Second is financial access, which means people shouldn’t come under financial stress while seeking treatment. They shouldn’t have to borrow or sell, or forego care because of inability to pay.
- Third dimension is quality that services and healthcare must be of quality in order to have impact.
With non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart diseases on the rise, the need for UHC is becoming more pressing by the day. It is critically important to address these issues in Pakistan on solid grounds. Insurance companies can offer a top-up policy and play a role in the coverage of health cases. Health insurance policies make sure that you and your family get the quality treatment on time whenever you need it.
In Pakistan it is the need of the hour that health insurance policies and plans are devised in such a way that that can easily offer the required financial assistance to deal with any medical emergency and they also keep the patient prepared to beat the healthcare inflation rate.