ISLAMABAD, July 21 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday stressed upon bringing about revolution in the healthcare sector with coordinated efforts and determination by all the stakeholders.
Addressing a ceremony after launching ceremony of digital system for licensing, registration of medical devices, the prime minister expressed the hope that under the new digital system, the applications for registration of medical services and equipment would be decided within 20 days in a transparent and merit-based system.
Regretting the inordinate delays in the registration process of medical services in the past, the prime minister referred to Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) as “Drag, not DRAP, as it was dragging the process not for months but for years. The reasons were known to all.”
The prime minister citing issues in the health sector, recollected that during his tenure as Punjab chief minister, he had sent samples of certain cardiovascular drugs aboard for testing after reports indicated a number of deaths in the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, adding later, the reports from London; etc indicated that these drugs were meant to treat malaria and not heart patients which were not handled properly by DRAP.
The prime minister said that he had brought Major Gen. (retd) Azhar Mahmood Kayani to Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, who by virtue of his hard work and dedication, turned the facility remarkable.
The prime minister underscored that the country needed such like health facilities.
He also recollected that during his tenure as chief minister, his government allocated a huge budget for provision of free of cost medicines at the government run hospitals during 2014-15.
The 60 percent samples of those drugs proved below standards, he said, adding later, under his strict directive, provision of quality medicines free of cost was ensured besides, his provincial government also set up laboratories across the province to facilitate the poor and deprived people.
He also appreciated the Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal for his hard efforts to introduce reforms in the health sector.
The minister also took notice of closure of hospitals and now they would be revived, he added.
The prime minister emphasized that if they decided to bring about revolution in the health sector, it might be a difficult task but not impossible.
“There may be mountains like hurdles, but if we decide with determination to negotiate them and move ahead, then nothing can hamper the way towards progress and prosperity. The hard work does not go in vain,” he further stressed.
The prime minister also expressed the optimism that with joint efforts and decisions, they would change fate of Pakistan and the day was not far off when the country would achieve its mark among the comity of nations.
He also appreciated the minister, secretary, CEO DRAP and their team for the introduction of digital system.
Minister for National Health Services and Regulations Mustafa Kamal, in his remarks, said that contrary to earlier long periods of registration process, they had squeezed the time through online digitization system spanning over 20 days.
He said the system would be free from any human contact as the certificates would be available online without visiting DRAP.
He said that all the efforts made in the health sector indicated the intent and the vision of the incumbent government under the leadership of the prime minister.
Kamal further referring to major issues in health sector including population growth, waterborne diseases etc; said that they were making all out efforts with available resources to overcome them.
They were further improving the healthcare system with public private partnership, he said, adding the primary healthcare system would be strengthened further to reduce burden at the main healthcare centers.
The registration and licensing of everything from wheelchairs to MRI machines would be done online. Citizens could submit online applications from home to obtain registration and licensing of medical devices, he added.
The minister said this initiative would now shorten the process of years to just twenty days, and the public would have access to quality, safe, and effective medicines and medical devices in a timely manner.