Acting Pakistan President Mohammedmian Soomro has emphasised the need for adopting innovative approach to keep pace with the advancements in every field.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of the Health Asia-2004 held at a local hotel on Saturday.
Soomro, who is also the chairman of the Senate, said that due attention should be paid towards the preventive side in the realms of health, adding the present government has also adopted the same course.
He emphasised the need for undertaking concerted efforts towards the health care in our society.
In this respect, he also highlighted the significance of the process of consultation as well as the interaction among the stake-holders.
He was of the view that the teaching of biology, health sciences, etc should start from the school level up to the institutions of higher learning in an organised manner.
Soomro pointed out that the post-health care system revolves around the doctors as well as the pharmaceutical industries.
The acting President referred to the research that is being carried out on herbal plants in the country, and also highlighted the role of the Hamdard Foundation in this regard.
He called for enhancing the marketing scope and competitiveness as well as look for bringing down the cost for the benefit of the common man.
Soomro also highlighted the importance of insurance in the health care, and also pointed towards the role of the EFU health Insurance Limited.
He said there is also a need for focus on the good management of the hospitals as well as the investigative facilities in diagnosis which should also be expanded to the rural areas of the country with the setting up of the pathological labs, etc, and also highlighted the significance of the quality medical education.
He stressed that the healthcare cost should be rationalised in order to help provide benefit to the common man.
Soomro wished the organisers every success, saying the deliberations at the moot would result in recommendations that are not only beneficial to the stakeholders in the health sector especially the common man.
Later, he inaugurated an exhibition in which various pharmaceutical industries exhibited their products.
Speaking on the occasion, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Secretary-General Aqeel A. Jaseem, in his address, said the health sector is very vital and needs due attention as well as public-private partnership.
He also called for efforts to improve health care as well as nutrition.
Jaseem pointed out that the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) has set up a task force on health, adding the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is also financing substantially in the social sector especially, the health and education.
The ICCI secretary-general said the private sector is also playing an increasingly important role in the health sector.
He was of the view that there was quite a lot of potential for investment in Pakistan in the health sector. There are eminent specialists and medical expertise.
Jaseem pointed out that the United States spends 13 percent of its GDP on health care, and this spending is about 10 percent in other developed countries like France, Canada, Japan and Britain.
He said investment in this sector on the part of OIC countries is quite low, and there is a need for its enhancement. Jaseem assured his body's support in this very area.
He also called upon the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to also play an active and promotional role in the health sector.
The Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Counsel of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Saudi Arabia, Sultan Bahabri; Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Director-General Rahatul Ain, Karachi Board of Investment Director-General Akhlaq Ahmed Malik also spoke on the occasion.
The Health Asia-2004 exhibition and conferences are being organised by the Ministry of Health as well as that of Investment and Privatisation in collaboration with the Board of Investment, CommerceNet, Singapore; E-commerce Gateway, Singapore; National University Hospital.
More than 13 distinctive conferences focusing on different prospects of health sector will be conducted.
The event is being participated by reputed hospitals, medical universities, pharmaceutical companies as well as medical equipment manufacturers.
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