WHY MORE MEDICAL COLLEGES IN PUBLIC SECTOR?
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Abstract
Progress is human nature and the need of every
society. Education in general and enhancement of
skilled work force in particular play an important role
in the development and progress of the society. To
keep pace with nations, societies and cultures on the
global stage, Governments and Non-Governmental
Organizations would plan, as a team, to meet the
current and future requirements. It gives pleasure to
see the progress being made in general education in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We had 08 universities in 60
years history of Pakistan but in the last four and a half
years, 09 more universities have been established in
our province. It is expected that the current literacy
rate of 49.9% would shoot up in the next 5-10 years.
Although this is a welcome expectation, higher literacy
rate alone would not improve the health indicators.
Literacy rate and skilled work force in health are
essential factors for the improvement of health
indicators. Enhancing one and ignoring the other
would not help to meet our national, regional and
international obligations. When literacy rate is low,
people will not be able to use available health care
facilities optimally hence the desired improvement in
health indicators would remain a dream even in the
presence of adequate appropriately qualified health
care providers. On the other hand, high literacy rate
would create demand for accessibility of quality health
care services to masses. If this awareness is not met
with expected services through enhancement in skilled
work force in health sector, frustration and
dissatisfaction would grow further with health
indicators remaining low. Take the example of India.
Health indicators in India are much lower than Sri Lanka
despite its financial might. It is because of the low
literacy rate. On the other hand, the literacy rate in Sri
Lanka is much higher and it is coupled with
enhancement of skilled work force in health sector. The
result is that health indicators of Sri Lanka are
enviably higher despite its tiny economy and internal
armed conflict. Thus, if we want to improve our health
indicators and be known on the world stage, we have
to improve literacy rate together with improvement in
quality and numbers of health care providers.
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