PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IN PAKISTAN AN ANALYSIS OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO COVID-19
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Date
2021
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Publisher
UMT, Lahore
Abstract
Medical care, as a result of COVID-19, in Pakistan, received enhanced attention of the government. While public health in Pakistan has been by and large neglected over decades, the pandemic forced the government authorities to deal with the emergency with unprecedented focus. Protection and immunization efforts were increased with assistance from the World Bank, China, and WHO. Pakistan had to grapple with its limited testing facilities and inadequate hospital-bed availability. Therefore, the vast majority of the population could not be tested or treated for COVID 19 as the infection spread. Selective use of smart lockdown, vaccination drive, and administrative measures are centered on the areas in which infected groups can be distinguished. Large parts of rural areas remain by and large outside the government health care efforts. Health experts argue that the government has a duty to act prevent the spread further and to provide medical services to the people. In February 2020, a full-blown pandemic of the C0VID-19 strain broke out in Pakistan, causing widespread death and illness. This paper describes the administrative and institutional response of the Pakistan government to COVID-19.