Following the directives of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, health ministry has prepared a strategy paper to formulate national policy on Hepatitis. Federal Secretary for Health, Syed Anwer Mehmood said this on Tuesday while talking to journalists here at a two day "National Media Retreat on Health" organised by Ministry of Health and National Institute of Health (NIH) in collaboration with Unicef.
Anwer said that the Prime Minister has given a period of six weeks for the preparation of strategy paper to fight hepatitis on war footing.
He said that hepatitis was posing a serious public health challenge, adding unsafe blood transfusion and non-availability of clean drinking water were major sources of the disease.
Mehmood further said that the government was cognisant of the prevalence of hepatitis and no stone would be left unturned to control this deadly disease.
Replying to a query, Anwer Mehmood expressed satisfaction over the performance of National Institute of Health adding that more could be done to improve quality and production of vaccines.
When asked about the controversy between Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) and health institutions, Mehmood said that health ministry was playing neutral role in addressing all such issues.
He was of the view that PM&DC should offer equal opportunities to all institutions, as an effective regulatory authority.
Health secretary further said that around 32 institutions were provisionally recognised by the PM&DC which are now demanding representation in PM&DC council.
"There are already more than 50 institutions are affiliated with PM&DC and it would be impossible to include more," he added.
He informed the newsmen that PM&DC has proposed to the health ministry to reduce members of its council from 56 to 26. "A draft amended law has been sent to health ministry and we are thoroughly reviewing it," he added.
Anwer Mehmood said that the amended law would soon be sent to ministry of law and justice for vetting before putting up for cabinet for final approval.
Earlier addressing the participants of National Media Retreat on Health, secretary health reiterated government's commitment to fight hepatitis and sharp increase in maternal mortality.
Dr Khalif Bile, country representative of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Omar Abidi, representative of Unicef, Director General Health, Dr Abdul Majeed Rajput and other health experts were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Syed Anwer Mehmood urged media to join hands with health ministry to create awareness about the deadly diseases including polio, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.
Sharing his views with the participants, Dr Khalif Bile said that provision of primary health care and family planning are major challenges in Pakistan.
Omar Abidi, country representative of Unicef said that poverty, gender inequality, illiteracy and lacks of healthcare facilities are the root causes of high mortality rate in the country.
Ministry of Health also introduced a cartoon character "Teeku, friend of all children" on this occasion holding a number '5' in his hand urging the parents to take their children to hospital five times to protect them from diseases.