Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza Friday announced manufacturing of 'Remdesivir' drug under the licence of US pharmaceutical company Gilead.
Addressing a news conference the special assistant said that Pakistan will soon start manufacturing breakthrough Covid-19 treatment drug Remdesivir under license from US pharmaceutical company Gilead. He said a Pakistani pharmaceutical company has concluded its voluntary licensing agreement with Gilead for the manufacture and sale of Remdesivir.
The special assistant said Pakistan is among the five countries with which the US company has signed licensing agreement for manufacturing the drug.
He said production of the medicine can commence as early as eight weeks after the necessary regulatory approvals are obtained.
Dr Zafar Mirza said the development represents an important step forward for Pakistan on the health, economic and diplomacy fronts.
He said it helps provide our citizens and frontline healthcare workers access to the latest treatment for the pandemic in a fast-track manner.
He said Pakistan will also be able to export the medicine to 127 countries facing the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking on the occasion, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood said the local manufacture of Remdesivir represents an important export opportunity for the country's pharmaceutical sector at a critical period.
He said export of the drug to the developing world at this time of need will also position Pakistan to play its rightful role on the global stage of public health.
Meanwhile, speaking at a training session of healthcare workers in Islamabad on Friday, Dr Zafar Mirza launched a campaign, "We Care" to protect and support frontline healthcare workers in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
He said medical and paramedical staff will be trained to properly use personal protective equipment.
No matter how much personal protective equipment we provide to doctors and nurses, unless it is not used rationally, no quantity will be enough to meet the demand, Mirza said.
He said that along with the increase in the production of the PPEs and N-95 masks, the government was also working on "promoting and training doctors on how to rationally use the equipment".
"My vision is to not just reach every health professional in Pakistan with this message that we care but also provide training to them," Dr Mirza said, explaining that the training would educate doctors on what equipment to use in what circumstances, how to put it on and even how to dispose it of.
"Recently, we have launched a guideline on National Prevention and Control in a PDF version and I want all professionals to go through it," the PM's assistant said. He pointed that National Guidelines on COVID-19 and PPEs have also been launched. All doctors will be trained according to these guidelines.
"We will send PDF files to you, so that you have a reference document to consult in case of any ambiguity or confusion," Dr Mirza said. The training should not just be limited to a number of doctors but also other people at the hospital.
"We want to show the people that we don't just say that we care but also mean it," he said.
Dr Mirza remarked that the programme will also be extended to private hospitals.
"A helpline will also be set up where healthcare professionals can call, in case of a shortage of equipment."
He explained that a shortage persisted because of disconnect between doctors and the hospital management.
"I want to request hospitals to form committees for the management of the PPEs." This will ensure active communication between both parties, he added. Dr Mirza lauded the efforts of healthcare professionals in Pakistan and thanked them for their service.
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