Some Pertinent Solutions to the Challenges Faced by the Pakistani Healthcare Systems

Abstract

Health systems worldwide face various challenges. Disparities are evident among different geographic locations. There are several hurdles in providing high-quality professional education, especially in low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), including insufficient basic infrastructure and a shortage of professionally trained staff. This issue presents a particular risk in LMICs that are ill-equipped to deal with complex and expensive treatments [1, 2]. Although developing and enhancing educational programs to yield more healthcare professionals is constructive, these efforts need to be accompanied by educational structuring that will provide postgraduates with the necessary competencies [3]. It is not uncommon for the patients in LMICs with a potentially curable disease to receive sub-optimal treatment because of a lack of competencies and a caring attitude. This prompts some interesting challenges around the speciality training of postgraduates. In particular, what we are trying to achieve in modern oncology training programmes? Are current examination systems an effective test of knowledge, skills, and safety to practice? And, if so, are they sufficient to prepare for independent practice? Or should training programmes incorporate non-clinical skills related to issues? Interestingly, according to World Health Organization (W.H.O.), there are six elements or system building blocks of the health system that includes (i) service delivery, (ii) health workforce, (iii) health information systems, (iv) access to essential medicines, (v) financing, and (vi) leadership/governance [4]. We believe that these elements overlap with our proposal of inclusion of non-clinical leadership skills during their early years so that they are aware of the gaps and develop a mindset to improve the healthcare system by themselves. In this paper, we propose these five concepts to be inducted into our postgraduate training that will pave the way to improve our healthcare system.