LAHORE, March 4: At least one billion people around the world use tobacco in various forms and of them some five million die annually. About 7.5 million people die due to high blood pressure while 2.6 million owing to obesity.
This was stated by Dr Sania Nishtar, who was delivering a guest lecture on the fourth day of the Pakistan Urban Forum 2011 at Alhamra Hall here on Friday.
She said health problems had increased due to expansion of cities and there was a dire need of reforms in the health sector.
Of tobacco users, some 2.8 million save their lives because they also take fruits and vegetables. She said some 2.6 million tobacco users die due to increasing cholesterol level, while 5.8 million lose their lives due to diabetes.
Dr Nishtar stressed that people should change their lifestyle and improve healthcare facilities.
She stressed overhauling of reforms in the healthcare sector at the level of governance, micro economic, tax, financial, civil services and public management and anti-corruption.
She said five different healthcare systems were running in Pakistan that benefited only 26 per cent of population whereas rest of them consulted the private sector.
She said only 2.9 per cent share of the GDP was allocated for the health sector that was obviously very low.
Maximum funds should be allocated for the healthcare sector besides ensuring their transparent utilisation, she said.
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