Chairman & CEO of Pakistan Observer Faisal Zahid Malik exchanging views with Caretaker Federal Minister for the National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, Dr. Nadeem Jan who visited Pakistan Observer’s head office here on Friday. —PO photo by Sh Arif
Caretaker Federal Minister of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) , Dr Nadeem Jan has called for a substantial increase in budget allocation for health which would not only serve to save more people’s lives it would also indirectly improve the overall performance by sending healthy people to work.
He expressed these views in a meeting with Chairman & CEO of Pakistan Observer, Mr Faisal Zahid Malik during his visit to the newspaper’s office.
The minister who has been heading the health portfolio since August last year proposed allocation of 2pc of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the health sector.
If the budget allocation is increased it would have very positive results on the overall performance/output of the public and private sectors both, he said.
Majority of our problems such as non-availability of vaccines, upgraded medical services are leading to the unfortunate deaths of children, the minister said and requested the next government to allocate at least 2 percent of the GDP for health, a sector that has been overlooked by all previous governments. I am sure the new setup would consider this core issue, said Dr Nadeem Jan who despite the paucity of funds and shortage of resources has initiated major reforms in health sector like ensuring primary and secondary health services at all levels, online registration, launch of a drug application to ensure availability of the medicines, promoting a culture of research and above all local manufacturing of medicines.
We have laid down the foundation stone of large-scale reforms in a short period of time and I am sure that these reforms would put the health sector in the right direction, he said.
The minister said that concerted steps had been taken to make the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) public-friendly. He particularly mentioned the online licensing, registration in DRAP which is something he had been working on for quite some time and now finally, it has been made functional.
Another area the interim minister has addressed is initiation of drug manufacturing within the country instead of importing them. This would not only streamline the supply of medicines, it would also save revenue.
The minister referred to last month’s Global Health Security Summit saying it served as a great opportunity of bringing together international and national experts in the concerned field and learning by sharing expertise and knowledge for a safer world.
The strategic objectives of the conference were to collaborate with global leaders in order to ensure equity-based pandemic preparedness financing for low and middle-income countries and mutual exchange of knowledge and rich experience with member states and experts around summit thematic areas which focuses on vaccine equity, patent deregulation and transfer of technology.
Dr Nadeem jan said provision of quality medical facilities to the public was the top priority of his government and Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir had asked him to work for tirelessly for the best possible services to the people of Pakistan and reduce their disease burden.
Hopefully, the reforms in DRAP, PMDC, public health would serve to meet those desired goals and the next government would not only carry them but also make further improvements. The minister said a number of countries including China and the Gulf states have expressed their interest in collaboration with Pakistan in the health sector.
He mentioned his meeting held earlier in the day with Chinese health company officials who wanted to make an investment of US$300 million in districts and towns along the CPEC route. This is something quite reassuring and tells you that you have done something positive, he said. Mr Faisal Zahid Malik appreciated the efforts of the health minister and his team for introducing reforms in the health sector providing much-needed relief to the people. He also commended the concept of integrated services for maximum utilization of the polio health workers like in nutrition, family planning and mother and child healthcare. This will strengthen the bond of goodwill between the polio workers and the families they approach, said Faisal Malik and hoped the integrated services concept of Dr Nadeem Jan would be realized.
