صحتِ انسانی اور صحت مند ماحول میں نباتات کا کردار: سائنس اوراسلامی تعلیمات کے تناظر میں ایک مطالعہ

The research paper deals with role of plants in human health and healthy environment in the context of Qur'anic verses and science. The concept of growing plants for health rather than for food or fiber is slowly changing plant biotechnology and medicine. Rediscovery of the connection between plants and health is responsible for launching a new generation of botanical therapeutics that include plant-derived pharmaceuticals, multi component botanical drugs, dietary supplements, functional foods and plant-produced recombinant proteins. Many of these products will soon complement conventional pharmaceuticals in the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of diseases, while at the same time adding value to agriculture. Holy Quran describes the importance of rain as pure water to irrigate dead soil and emergence of life (plant’s growth) from the dead soil. Plants provide foods for human beings and are necessary for healthy environment. Man is an omnivore who gets his food from both plant and animal sources. However, for immediate energy, humans rely more on plant starches and soluble sugars, including glucose and edible sugar. Generally, our normal diet consists of rice or wheat bread which is a very important source of starch.  Sugar and fats are the two most important components of food managed by plants. Apart from this, the man manages vegetables and salads from plants which are the guarantors of his health/survival in modern times. There are many reasons for diversity in plants. The obvious reason is the chemistry of that particular piece of land, what kind of minerals/salts and other nutrients that land has and what types of plants can grow there in their presence. In this research written with a descriptive and analytical approach, it is proved that according to Quran and science plants have a great role in human health and healthy environment.

Efficiency and Quality Nexus: Evidence from Health Care Facilities in Pakistan

The existence of inefficiencies in health care provision is a major health policy concern in the developing countries. Health system of Pakistan mainly constitutes public and private sectors and the private sector covers almost 70 percent of the population. Increasing role of private sector and burden of out of pocket health expenditures highlight the need to investigate the performance of hospitals of private sector. In the first chapter, this study has estimated the technical efficiency of private hospitals of Pakistan for ambulatory services and inpatients care. The data has been used from a survey conducted by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics in 2010-11. Efficiency scores are estimated using Stochastic Frontier Analysis. At second stage, we have explored whether private hospitals in Pakistan increase their efficiency in response to an enhancement in neighboring regions efficiency level. This spatial regression analysis has been done using Spatial Lag Model and Spatial Error Model. We find that efficiency scores of Pakistan’s private hospitals are quite low. Not a single hospital is found to be working on full efficiency level. Moreover, the findings of the second stage analysis showed that efficiency has a positive spillover for Outpatient care for small hospitals. Contrary to it, big hospitals have spatial dependence in inpatients care. We concluded that small hospitals compete in outpatients department with the motive of profit maximization, whereas big hospitals compete in inpatients care with the same motive. In the second chapter, this study has estimated the technical efficiency of public hospitals in Pakistan for obstetric services. The data is taken from the Health Facility Assessment Survey which was conducted by ministry of health, Pakistan in 2010-11. Efficiency scores are estimated using parametric technique Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). The relationship between efficiency and quality is explored using Least Square Dummy Variables (LSDV) and Two-Stage Residual Inclusion (2SRI). The efficiency scores of Pakistan’s public hospitals in obstetric services are found to be quite low. Moreover, the relationship between a hospital’s efficiency and the quality of service it provides is found to be positive and statistically significant. We concluded that risk of maternal and neonatal mortality is lower in more efficient hospitals as compared to the less efficient ones. The findings have policy implication that efficiency gains can be achieved without the loss of quality of services provided by the hospitals. An effective healthcare system can operate properly if it considers patients’ perceptions (perceived quality) and modifies itself according to the feedback. The assessment of patients’ point of view (perceptions) not only is important to identify the problems in quality assessment, but it will also provide a way forward towards improvement in the existing condition of public healthcare system. In the third chapter, this study has explored the relationship between technical efficiency of health care units (DHQs hospitals), and the patients’ perceptions about the quality of services with respect to mother and child health. The data on patient’s perceptions’ and other control variables are taken from Client Exit Interviews that was part of HFA survey. Three techniques are used to form satisfaction index such as equal weights, Principal Component Analysis and Polychoric Principal Component Analysis for robustness. Two stage residual inclusion, Ordered Logistic Regression and Least square dummy variable techniques are used to investigate the relation between technical efficiency of a hospital and patients satisfaction level. The findings of this chapter reveal negative association exists between efficiency and patients’ perceptions which indicates with the increase in hospital efficiency, the satisfaction level of the patients tends to decrease. According to the findings of disaggregated analysis, the patients’ level of satisfaction which is associated with the healthcare provider attitude is more affected by the technical efficiency.