PM inaugurates Telehealth Portal

Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his apprehension on Wednesday that the people may have to live with the virus for at least a year or as long as a vaccine was not made.

Speaking after inaugurating the Covid-19 Telehealth Portal, the premier said "it was a difficult time in Pakistan even though the people affected by the virus in Pakistan were not as many as in the Western countries; it appears that this year the virus will remain with the people and may be longer as long as the vaccine was not made."

He said that even health facilities of developed and wealthy countries had not been able to cope with the problem, and Pakistan's health sector, unfortunately, had remained neglected.

Yet, the prime minister added that so far the condition of the country's hospitals was not as bad as in the Western countries.

The premier urged doctors and especially lady doctors to get them registered with Telehealth. "We have to work together to deal with the challenge of the coronavirus" he said, adding it was very important for doctors to render their services through the health portal.

He said in Corona Relief Tiger Force, a large number of health professionals also got registered on a voluntary basis to play their role in the fight.

The prime minister said it was hoped that volunteers registered with the service would play an effective role in the far-flung areas of the country.

Earlier, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus gave detailed briefing to the prime minister on Telehealth Portal, and urged the people to use this service whose launched was helped by many people.

She said that Pakistan was the only country that was providing this service free to the people.

Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said a safe environment would be provided to the doctors and patients through this gateway.

He said citizens could also ask questions and seek guidance from medical experts through this portal. He congratulated digital health for launching this programme.

He said that Telehealth would be a permanent feature of people's life.

He urged the doctors to take benefit of the facility by registering themselves in Telehealth.