Newly appointed Minister of State for National Health Services Dr. Zafar Mirza visited the National Institute of Health here today. He was briefed on the major initiatives undertaken to transform NIH by Executive Director of the Institute Major General Dr. Aamer Ikram. Secretary Health Capt. (R) Zahid Saeed and Director General Health Dr. Assad Hafeez were also present on the occasion. Health Minister Dr. Zafar Mirza said NIH is a national asset and has enormous potential. I am very heartened to see the work being done at this premier health institution of the country remarked the minister. The NIH is contributing towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals. He said he would work closely with NIH in its key areas of focus including disease surveillance and control of infectious diseases. The role of NIH is important in the context of stopping the spread of communicable diseases. He referred to Joint External Evaluation carried out in 2016 to evaluate core capacities in Public Health and stressed that he would like to work with NIH in ensuring that there is focus on implementation of recommendations of Joint External Evaluation including strengthening of real-time Disease Surveillance and Response mechanisms and to work on Anti-microbial resistance in the country. Major General Dr. Aamer Ikram said the production of number of vaccines including measles, tetanus and diphtheria has been started. Landmark initiatives have been taken to bring NIH at par with international standards, he said. Production of measles vaccine for children which was stalled for 7 years has been made functional, Rs. 751 Million have been approved for production of Sera which is a major step forward and would meet critical demand of vaccine and Sera of the country shared Maj. Gen. Dr. Aamer Ikram. He said we cannot export vaccines without conforming to current Good Manufacturing Practices. We have prepared a policy in this regard which will be launched soon. This will enable us to export vaccines. Today, the institute is undertaking successful implementation of five years road map of International Health Regulations and Global Health Security Agenda alongwith implementation of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System in the country. The transparency and Good Governance at the institute has facilitated collaboration with internationally reputed health organizations that are supporting the reform process. For the first time Public Health Act has been drafted whereas various technical and policy documents such as national laboratory policy, national bio-safety policy, AMR National Acrion Plan, case definition book, Handbook for Good Laboratory Practices in Pakistan and bioprism have been launched. We will leave no stone unturned to take this institute further as the leading public health institution of the region, resolved Maj. Gen. Dr. Aamer Ikram. The Minister went round various divisions of the institute and lauded the efforts of Executive Director NIH. ***
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