Islamabad: The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday suggested improvements in the provision of medicine to the needy through Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM).
Provision of medical assistance to underprivileged should not be left to the staff of government-owned hospitals; it should be done through well-reputed private parties and medical stores, it said.
Medicines should be stamped and their packing and labels should be marked before delivery to discourage resale and forgery, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.
Presently, he said, needy contacts PBM about their requirement through social welfare staff of the hospitals.
After receiving a request, PBM verifies it and release cheque to the hospitals under Individual Financial Assistance Program. Subsequently the hospital staff hands over medicines to the applicant.
The process takes some days to complete that needs to be accelerated, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal. However, complaints of unnecessary delay, provision of substandard, expired and fake drugs are commonplace; he said adding that quantity is sometimes compromised.
This practice has transformed into a profitable business in the major government hospitals that needs to be curbed. It tantamount to killing humanity including poor, disabled, widows and orphans, he said.
Records of the patients treated under the PBM, Zakat and other welfare funds should be properly maintained, he said adding that thriving private healthcare business is ample proof of inefficiency of public sector facilities.
The tendency among destitute to leave in the middle of the treatment due to cost of medicine, diagnostic expanses or any other issues should be discouraged through a proper welfare system, he demanded.
BAGHDAD: Two bombings near a Sunni mosque north of Baghdad and at one at funeral in south killed at least 46 people and...
LONDON: British High Commissioner (HC), Adam Thomson has said that UK police have received countless complaints against...
BANGALORE: Adam Gilchrist’s unbeaten 85 off 54 balls, helped by Azhar Mahmood's 61 off 41, stunned Royal Challengers Ba...
KARACHI: More than 154,000 staff will perform election duty at 14,980 polling stations across Sindh province, media repo...
HANGU: A curfew was imposed in Hangu district after an explosion targeting a Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) candidate...
Bangladesh take lead to 272 runs by stumps on Day 3HARARE: Bangladesh bowled Zimbabwe out for 282 and built a 272-run le...
MONTE CARLO, Monaco, April 18, 2013 (AFP) - Roger Federer will return to second in the ATP standings next week after And...
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said that all the political parties should be provid...
BOSTON, Massachusetts: Boston police said Monday that what was initially thought to have been a third explosion in the c...
ISLAMABAD: The Interior Ministry has decided to tighten security of Election Commission offices and political leaders. A...
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has changed the tribunal for hearing the appeals against Pakistan M...
KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan has announced Rs2 million cash reward for the CID personnel over successf...
HUB: Two persons’ bodies were found at Kharan on Saturday morning here, media reported. Awaran S.P. Muhammad Rafiq Lasi ...
Embassy takes serious notice of Pakistanis complaints Islamabad: The Head of Mission of Embassy of Libya in Islamabad h...
JAIPUR: Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and elected to field against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL clash at the Sawai...
HONG KONG: From foie gras noodles and liquid olives to air baguettes and mimetic peanuts, much of what elBulli chef Ferr...
GUJRANWALA: At least two persons were killed and four others sustained injuries as unknown armed people opened fire on p...
TOKYO: The dollar firmed against the yen and euro in Asia Wednesday, boosted by solid US economic data and a bleak outlo...
SEOUL In the middle of an escalating military crisis on the Korean peninsula, North Korea's appointment this week of an ...
ISLAMABAD: Weather turned pleasant in Islamabad and Rawalpindi as twin cities received rain here on Monday. According to...
Blackwater and MQM’s Hallmarks on Karachi Fire – Bombings
MQM and Blackwater/Xe are US sponsored mafia style mercenary outfits ...
Afghan Commandos Step Up Their Combat Role
At a classified Commando Base, Afghanistan - One day this month, a pai...
Sharif Seen As Trying To Reorient Pakistan's Foreign Policy
Pakistan's Prime Minister-designate Nawaz Sharif has signaled his des...
Afghans voice wariness of Pakistan’s Sharif
Kabul : Afghan President Hamid Karzai, calling to congratulate Pakist...
Much of $1bn Afghanistan tax bill is bogus, says US
American watchdog claims Afghan government is charging US contractors ...
Afghanistan Exit: Kabul and Berlin Estranged as Withdrawal Looms
With the security situation deteriorating in Afghanistan, Chancellor ...
Should India Provide Direct Military Aid to Afghanistan?
Over the past decade, India has invested heavily in Afghanistan’s rec...
What have we learned about stabilization in Afghanistan? Not much.
As of this year, Afghanistan has experienced ten years of stabilizatio...
