Speakers at a national policy dialogue regarding improving healthcare held here Tuesday stressed the need of adopting digital technology to transform the healthcare services in the country.
“Pakistan has a lot of potential and competent workforce in the health sector however there is a need to provide training to them on digital technologies to meet the modern-day challenges,” they said during the dialogue held at the COMSTECH Secretariat.
The dialogue titled “Improving Healthcare in Pakistan-Challenges and Opportunities” was organized by the OIC Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and Health Services Academy Islamabad in collaboration with the other organizations Country Head of World Health Organization (WHO) in Pakistan, Dr. Palitha Gurnathana Mahipala participated in the event as a special guest.
Vice Chancellor Health Sciences Academy Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan while addressing the event said that it is imperative to focus on the social sectors in the country. He said that there is a dire need to focus on the health and education sectors as these are the backbone of the country.
Addressing the seminar, Dr. Palitha Mahipala said that Pakistan has the potential to move forward in the health sector however there is need to bring improvement in the basic public health facilities delivery system. Dr. Palitha Mahipala termed Pakistans Sehat Sahulat Program as a great initiative for the uplift of the health sector, saying that Pakistan has a talented workforce and highly educated people.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abdul Rasheed said that the recent floods have caused severe damage to the health sector of Pakistan. Around 33 million people have been affected in the flood-hit areas while a large number of people are facing epidemic diseases.
Dr. Abdul Rasheed said that the total population of 57 OIC countries is around 1.9 billion people. COMSTECH is playing an important role in the field of sciences in member countries. He also appreciated the role of media on this occasion in creating awareness regarding measures needed to be taken to strengthen the science and technology sector.
Speaking at the seminar, the Chief Executive Officer of Sehat Sahulat Program, Dr. Muhammad Arshad said that Pakistan fought the coronavirus pandemic bravely. He said that 17.5 million can be benefitted from the National Health Insurance Scheme which was launched in 2015.
Under this plan, 182 hospitals in Pakistan are providing free healthcare services to patients, he conveyed. He said that there is a need to ensure provision of quality healthcare facilities to the masses across the country. The governments initiatives will yield positive outcomes in terms of improved healthcare facilities in the next five years. Addressing the seminar, Dr. Zafar Mirza of Shifa Tameer-e-Milat University emphasized on paying attention to the basic public health facilities. He said that Pak el discussion was also organized in which experts gave their valuable inputs for transforming the healthcare sector in Pakistan.
