German experts would extend cooperation for the development of pediatric surgery in Pakistan especially in Punjab. Collaboration would also be extended to enhance the facilities of paeds surgery in the hospitals and capacity building/training of the doctors. It was announced in a meeting between the four-member German delegation headed by Professor Claus Peterson and the Minister Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education, Khawaja Salman Rafique and Minister Primary & Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir jointly, here on Saturday.
Besides, Secretary SH&ME Najam Ahmed Shah, Secretary P&S Health Ali Jan Khan, DG Health Punjab Dr Akhtar Rasheed Malik, Additional Secretaries (Technical) of both the Health Departments, Dr Salman Shahid, Dr Asim Altaf, Dean Children Hospital Professor Masood Sadiq, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Professor Qazi Saeed, Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Professor Khalid Masood Gondal, Professor Ahsan Waheed Rathore, Professor of Paeds Surgery Children Hospital Professor Saleem, Chief Executive Punjab Public Health Agency Dr Shabnam Sarfraz, CEO Health Lahore Dr Yadullah and other concerned officers attended the meeting.
Professor Shabnam Sarfraz, Professor Saleem and Professor Masood Sadiq briefed the German delegation regarding the available facilities of paediatric surgery in Pakistan particularly in the hospitals of Punjab. They were of the view that available facilities are not sufficient to cater the growing population. Khawaja Imran Nazir informed the delegation that government has desired to extend paediatric treatment and surgical facilities in DHQ and THQ hospitals for which work has been started.
He said that collaboration and technical assistance offered by the German experts would be a good omen for the development of the health sector through which new initiatives could be taken. Khawaja Salman Rafique welcomed the German collaboration for capacity building and training of human resource and strengthening of paeds surgery facilities in the public sector hospitals.