The government on Tuesday announced to initiate three mega projects with total outlay of over Rs 27.420 billion in health sector, ie for reduction in alarming mortality rate, control of breast cancer and establishment of a regulatory body for disabled persons.
Federal Health Minister, Nasir Khan announced this while speaking at a news conference. Secretary Health, Syed Anwer Mehmood was also present on the occasion.
Unveiling the details of these projects, Nasir said the National Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Programme were the major programmes that would be launched at a cost of Rs 27 billion.
He said it would help in reducing the mortality rate that is currently very high. "We remained engaged in consultative process with the provincial governments for a long period. Now the programme is ready and soon be launched," he added.
Under the project, the minister continued that the government would impart training to more than 10,000 birth attendants whereas the reproductive health services would be improved in 275 government hospitals across the country.
Nasir Khan told reporters that the government would focus on rural areas to bring down the mortality rate. "We are hopeful that things will improve drastically," he hoped.
Speaking at the news conference, the minister said the government would launch another mega programme worth Rs 420 million to provide treatment to needy women who are suffering from breast cancer.
Nasir Khan said the government would immediately establish five health centers in government hospitals under the early detection and prevention of breast cancer programme.
These centers would be established at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Sheikh Zahid Hospital, Lahore, Federal Government Medical Center, Peshawar, Sheikh Zahid Medical Center, Quetta and Jinnah Hospital, Karachi.
Khan went on saying that the government would also provide free of cost treatment to patients where digital mammography, ultrasound and all other equipment for detection of the disease would be put in place.
Speaking about the establishment of a regulatory body, the health minister informed the newsmen that a national rehabilitation authority would be formed for disabled persons.
The authority will have its own executive board and its secretariat would be at National Institute for Handicapped (NIHd), he added.
Responding to a question, health minister Nasir Khan said the government has allocated a token money of Rs 100 million for these projects and added that PC-I of all these programmes were ready for submission to Central Development Working Party (CDWP) that will meet in August. To another query, the minister replied that seven polio cases have so far been reported during the current year.