Islamabad: Caretaker Dr. Nadeem Jan, the Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, stated that despite the short time frame, he worked hard to implement health-care changes. Several initiatives were made, including digitizing DRAP, implementing a new drug pricing policy, and looking for new markets to boost exports.
He claimed that Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry had the potential to boost the country’s exports. The sector should focus on exports to Central Asia, Africa, and Afghanistan. During his visit to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), he spoke with President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari and other members about his thoughts.
The federal minister stated that it is his responsibility to implement health-care changes. He stated that he labored day and night for the country’s pride. He took tangible initiatives to boost pharmaceutical exports for the benefit of the economy and moved the Pharma Park project forward. He emphasized the importance of this endeavor to the industry. This project will benefit the pharmaceutical sector.
He stated that the corporate community should play an active role in the health sector. The business community’s services to the poor and backward people in hospitals should be exemplary. He stated that philanthropists and investors in society should work with the government to provide healthcare facilities to low-income patients.
On the occasion, ICCI President Ahsan Bakhtawari praised the caretaker administration’s work and urged the incoming government to continue these excellent policies. He made many ideas for collaboration between the ICCI and the Ministry of Health. The ICCI president commended the digitization of DRAP. He emphasized the importance of building nursing colleges in major cities, including as Islamabad, in conjunction with the ICCI. He stated that Japan, Europe, and the United States require millions of trained nurses each year, yet Pakistan is unable to generate enough nurses to meet its own demand. He stated that the government should provide special attention to this industry.
Special institutes for nursing training should be established in major cities, including Islamabad, in partnership with the ICCI.
He stated that two major hospitals in Islamabad are experiencing tremendous issues. He advocated that the business community have representation on hospital boards. Transparency should be incorporated into funding, tendering, and financing. He agreed with the federal minister’s recommendations for providing medicines to patients in government hospitals and offering Iftar and Sehri during Ramadan.
The president of the ICCI stated that the Ministry of Health should provide facilities for the import of raw materials for pharmaceuticals in order to expand industry production and promote exports.
The president of the ICCI stated that the federal government should take steps to establish the single registration policy for medicines so that Pakistani companies operating in the African market do not have to go through the re-registration procedure.
On the occasion, ICCI Vice President Engr. Azhar ul Islam stated that health is a fundamental aspect of human life, but the sector is facing serious financial challenges in Pakistan.The Ministry of Health should involve the business community in policymaking so that problems can be resolved. He proposed cooperation for the nursing college in Rahim Yar Khan, which was accepted by the federal health minister.
