Ms. Saira
Afzal Tarar, Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulation and
Co-ordination reached Tehran on a three day official visit this Friday to the Islamic Republic of Iran at the
invitation of her counterpart Dr. Seyyed Hassan Qazizadeh Hashmi, says a press
release received here from Iran.
Minister Tarar held meetings with the
Iranian Health Minister Dr. Hashmi; Mr. Moohebati, President of Iran Health
Insurance Organization (IHIO); Dr. Asghari, President Iran Food and Drug
Administration and other Iranian officials from the health sector in which
possibilities of cooperation between the two countries in the public health
sector came under discussion.
The Federal Minister lauded the
universal public health coverage of Iran as an example in the region and said
that family planning, primary public health, pharmaceuticals, polio
eradication, controlling infectious and non-infectious diseases and Iran’s
health insurance system and health reform plan are areas in which both
countries can collaborate and benefit from each other’s experiences.
Both sides
also agreed to enhance cooperation in the public health sector including
medical education and follow upon the MoUs signed between the two countries,
when President Rouhani visited Islamabad in March last year.
Iranian
Health Minister expressed his gratitude to the Government of Pakistan on
sending condolences and humanitarian assistance for the victims of the recent
earthquake in Karmanshah.
Earlier, Ms.
Saira Afzal Tarar visited Tehran Heart Center and Endocrinology &
Metabolism Research Center in Tehran. Later, the Federal Minister left for
Isfahan, where she will hold meeting with Chancellor of Isfahan University of
Medical Sciences and visit Cardio Vascular Diseases Research Center and Rural
& Urban Health Centers.
The Minister
is accompanied by Dr. Asad Hafeez, DG (Health), Ministry of NHSRC as well as
Dr. Faisal Rafiq, Director Technical, Prime Minister National Health Program;
Mr. Sher Gul Khan, Chief Planning officer, Dr. Amir Rafiq Khatak, Coordinator
in Social Health Protection initiative; Dr. Hafiz ud Din Pathan, Zonal Head
State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan; Mr. Haroon Ibrahim, Deputy
General Manager, Green Star Social Marketing and Dr. Zulfiqar Khan, SHO
National Professional officer....
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