Pakistan seeks deeper UK health ties, targets reform in disease control, maternal care
The UK remains a key funder of global development efforts in Pakistan. According to the UK government's website, it is supporting control and eradication of communicable diseases in Pakistan through its contributions in Global Health Initiatives, including Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), Global Alliance for Vaccination (GAVI) and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
A delegation led by Acting British High Commissioner Jo Moir met Kamal on Thursday to discuss Pakistan's health challenges, including a high burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
'A delegation from the British High Commission on Thursday met with Federal Minister for Health, Syed Mustafa Kamal to explore avenues for aligning the United Kingdom's support portfolio with Pakistan's national health priorities,' state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
'The minister reaffirmed the government's strong commitment to reforming the health sector and welcomed continued collaboration in critical areas such as maternal and child health, immunization, and health systems strengthening,' the report added.
Kamal stressed the importance of shifting Pakistan's focus from preventive and promotive health care by strengthening primary health care systems to reduce the strain on tertiary care facilities, APP said.
He called for the urgent need to address waterborne diseases in Pakistan, saying they account for 68 percent of all illnesses in the country. The minister called for tackling the crisis by ensuring the provision of safe drinking water and improved sewage systems across Pakistan.
Kamal raised concerns about Pakistan's high fertility rate, describing it as a 'national issue requiring immediate attention.'
'He encouraged efforts to balance population growth through collaboration with stakeholders, including religious scholars and development partners,' the report added.
Moir appreciated Kamal's efforts and shared details of the UK's ongoing support for Pakistan in the health and population sectors, the state-run media said.
She also highlighted plans to design a media campaign based on research findings, focusing on health and population awareness, APP said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Young Gaza woman flown to Italy for treatment, dies
ROME: A young Palestinian woman with severe wasting who was flown from Gaza to Italy this week for treatment has died, the hospital said on 20-year-old, named by Italian media as Marah Abu Zuhri, arrived in Pisa on an Italian government humanitarian flight overnight had a 'very complex clinical picture' and was 'in a profound state of organic wasting,' the University Hospital of Pisa said in a Friday, after undergoing tests and starting treatment, she had a sudden respiratory crisis and cardiac arrest, and hospital did not elaborate on her condition, but Italian news agencies reported that she was suffering from severe groups, UN agencies and Palestinian militant group Hamas have warned of the risk of widespread famine in war-battered young woman had come to Italy with her mother on one of three Italian air force flights that arrived this week with a total of 31 patients and their all suffered from serious congenital diseases, wounds or amputations, the Italian foreign ministry said at the far more than 180 children and young people from Gaza have been brought to Italy since the war began between Israel and head of the Tuscany region, Eugenio Giani, offered his condolences to the young woman's family.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Saudi health minister begins visit to Australia
SYDNEY: Saudi Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel on Thursday began a visit to Australia that will include stops in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. A series of meetings is scheduled to take place to discuss ways of bilateral cooperation in health, innovation and health investment, tha Saudi Press Agency reported. The visit includes meetings with senior Australian officials to discuss bilateral cooperation in public health and healthcare digital transformation, explore investment opportunities, and expand partnerships between the health institutions of both countries. The trip includes visits to healthcare facilities and specialized research centers, where Al-Jalajel will meet leaders in the health and biology sectors to review advanced experiences and expertise exchange, and explore cooperation horizons in innovation, health technologies, medical coding and ambulatory services. The health minister will also meet with Saudi scholarship students in the healthcare field.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Pakistani tribunal upholds ruling against Gulf-bound worker medical centers for price fixing
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's competition appeals tribunal has upheld a ruling against 20 medical centers and laboratories that colluded to fix prices and allocate customers for mandatory pre-departure health tests of workers bound for Gulf countries, the competition regulator said on Friday. The case involves a captive market of low-income Pakistani laborers headed mainly to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. Under the rules, these workers must undergo tests at centers approved by the Gulf Approved Medical Centers Association (GAMCA), a network of clinics authorized by Gulf states to carry out the mandatory checks. The regulator found the centers and their five regional associations divided customers on a rotational basis, eliminating competition on price and service quality, and in some cases charging for unnecessary repeat tests. 'The CCP's investigation concluded that fee fixation, territorial division and equal allocation of customers by GAMCAs violated the Competition Act, 2010,' the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) said in a statement. 'Any anti-competitive conduct will be dealt with strictly under the competition law,' it quoted its chairman, Dr. Kabir Sidhu, as saying. The competition appeals tribunal upheld the findings but reduced the penalties from 20 million rupees ($70,000) per medical center and 10 million rupees ($35,000) per GAMCA to 2 million rupees ($7,000) percenter and 1 million rupees ($3,500) per GAMCA. The CCP launched its inquiry after a complaint from the Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association, which represents manpower exporters.
