LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that Eurasia Medical Expo Conference in Turkey will be beneficial for developing countries for improving their healthcare system.
He said that the countries participating in the event would have a great opportunity for extending cooperation and developing understanding for the betterment of healthcare sector.
Addressing the Eurasia Medical Expo Conference in Turkey, the minister said that the world had become a global village, and a country could not face health challenges in isolation. “There is a need for international cooperation for prevention and control of diseases.”
He acknowledged the cooperation of international development partners for prevention and control of polio, measles, dengue and other diseases in Punjab. The minister said that extended programme of immunisation in Punjab was very successful and routine immunization coverage had been reached up to 85 percent by introducing various interventions, including E-VACCS system.
Health delegations of various participating countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Madagascar and Kosovo, also held meetings with the minister.
In his meeting with Turkish Health Minister Dr Recep Akdag, the minister discussed the matters of mutual cooperation in the field of health sector. Khawaja Salman Rafique told the Turkish health minister that several initiatives had been taken for infrastructure development in the healthcare sector in Punjab. He appreciated the cooperation extended by experts of the Turkish Health Ministry for infrastructure development, infection control, improving emergency services, introducing motorcycled ambulance service, introducing family medicine concept, cold chair management and setting up modern warehouses for medicines and vaccines.
Turkish Health Minister Dr Recep Akdag lauded the efforts of the Punjab chief minister for taking personal interest in development of health sector in Punjab.
Dr Sohail Saqlain, Dr Naeemud Din Mian, Muhammad Khan Ranjha and Agha Waqar Javed were also included in the Pakistani delegation.
