Federal Minister for National Health Services Regulation &
Coordination, Saira Afzal Tarar said that it is a great honour for Pakistan to have
the opportunity to host this prestigious international conference which is the highest
profile health event in the region. Hosting of Regional Committee Meeting in
Pakistan would serve to bring our great nations together and cement the ties
between our brotherly countries while she was addressing “Inaugural Session of
the Regional Committee Meeting of Eastern Mediterranean Region of World Health
Organization” on October 9, 2017.
Minister
said Eastern Mediterranean region has a population of nearly 583 million
people. We must correct the disparity in health spending of this region vis-à-vis
global health spending. We must invest in human capital and prioritize health
when allocating resources.
She
said facing common problems. There is a wealth of global and local knowledge in
the region. There is a challenge of access of public to health services. We
must employ innovation to ensure equity in access to health services.
Provision of healthcare is
the foundation of the development of human society. The collective deliberation
by the experts of our region on this important subject and related issues is
highly gratifying. I am confident our deliberations will be highly fruitful and
play a significant role in improving healthcare as some of the problems of this
region are of identical nature and we have to solve them collectively. Our
contiguity, bonds of common faith, history, cultural and similar socio-economic
conditions demand a collective effort to address the diverse issues in health
and this conference can be a milestone in this regard.
Minister further said that Our National Health Vision is fully aligned
to health related SDGS. Pakistan has taken major steps in the realm of
universal health coverage
and social protection by launching the landmark National Health
Insurance initiative- The Prime Minister’s National Health Program. The Program
caters to the health needs of population living below the poverty line through
provision of free of cost quality health services made available in both public
and private sector.
Families all over the country are being issued health cards through a
highly transparent system. We are confident that the initiative in terms of its
model and scale serves as an example that can be replicated in other countries
of the region.
She
said Pakistan
is fully cognizant of the global health implications of Anti-Microbial
Resistance. Under a comprehensive National AMR Containment policy emphasis has
been laid on the five strategic objectives of the WHO Global Action Plan for
AMR. We are working to optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines in human health
sector, agriculture and animal health sector though implementation of a
multi-pronged strategy in line with our national AMR policy.
Pakistan’s Joint External Evaluation of
International Health Regulations and Global Health Security Agenda. Pakistan has won
appreciation and is being seen as a model for others to follow.
She
said Pakistan is fighting the final battle against Polio after
a major turnaround has been achieved by our country, winning appreciation of
the international community. With the patronage of the President and leadership
of our Prime Minister we will Insha Allah achieve the final victory against
polio.
Special
attention has been paid to strengthening Immunization of mother and child under
the Expanded Program on Immunization.
There has been an increase in coverage of children vaccinated under
Expanded Program on Immunization by 15-20 percent. Vaccine Logistics Management
Information System VLMIS has been introduced. The entire supply and storage
system has been certified by ISO as being in accordance with international best
practices.
Pakistan has introduced
ROTA virus vaccine with the support of GAVI in phased manner .To ensure
equitable access to immunization, special emphasis will be given to reaching
the underserved population through robust micro-planning and tailor made
strategies such as engagement of Civil Society Organisations and community workers for
demand creation in low Immunization coverage and hard to reach areas.
She
said Major reforms are being made to make affordable and quality drugs
available to the masses. For the first time in Pakistan, we introduced
a comprehensive and futuristic Drug Pricing Policy has been introduced
eliminating all discretionary powers and also allowing for reduction in drugs
prices. To fight the menace of substandard and spurious drugs, availability of generic drugs is being
encouraged to provide an affordable alternative to the low income groups.
Pakistan is fully committed
to implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) with specific
reference to SDGs. In this connection, we are taking legislative,
administrative and coordination measures to implement FCTC provisions.
She said in the end I
would like to express gratitude to the Honourable President and to all
dignitaries from EMRO countries for honouring us with their presence.
***
