ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Nasir-ul-Mulk on Thursday urged the National Institute for Health (NIH) for enhanced collaboration with the provinces and for creating awareness among the masses on public health issues and diseases.
During his visit to the NIH in Islamabad, the prime minister said the NIH had a vast potential that needed to be further enhanced to serve as the Country’s premier public health department, with its own indigenous vaccine manufacturing and in-house research and development facilities.
Caretaker PM Nasirul Mulk has urged the National Institute for Health (NIH) for enhanced coordination with the provinces and for creating awareness among the masses on public health issues and diseases. He made these remarks during his visit to the NIH in #Islamabad . pic.twitter.com/CT4lgF9Ono
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) August 2, 2018
The prime minister was also appreciative of the initiative taken by the NIH to draft Country’s first Public Health Act, and asked the Ministry of Health to expedite the process and so as to allow the next government move ahead with the necessary legislation.
Justice (retd) Nasir-ul-Mulk appreciated the services being rendered by the NIH, and said the institute was playing a commendable role towards providing quality health services to the people of the Country.
Nasir-ul-Mulk appreciated the “great service” being rendered by the NIH, and said the NIH was playing its vital role by keeping in close contact with the provinces to ensure good health for the people of Pakistan. He said the role of NIH was commendable not only because of being the real health service provider but also for being a key player in the treatment and prevention of disease.
The prime minister said it was also important that the public needed to be made aware about the services being provided at the institute.
The Executive Director NIH Dr. Aamer Ikram briefed the prime minster about the mandate and working of the National Institute of Health, and said it had emerged as the Country’s premier multi-disciplinary public health related organization dealing with diagnostic services, research and production of biological.
The prime minister was informed that the functions of the NIH included advice to the government on control of disease, investigate epidemics and communicable disease and conduct research. While its future plans included expanding its research and development base, increased collaboration with international health bodies and Serum production.
Nasir-ul-Mulk was told about the recently launched Bio-Safety, Bio-Security and National Lab Policies which received very positive feedback. He was also informed about the priority list of diseases the role of NIH in polio eradication.
In addition, he was informed in detail about the working of its various and production of various vaccines.
The prime minister also went around various sections of the building of the NIH. He visited the Emergency Operations Centre where he was informed how the NIH keeps in touch with its field offices in the provinces and shares real-time information on health care issues besides disease monitoring and response.
The Minister for National Health Services Regulations and Coordination Professor Muhammad Yusuf Shaikh and Secretary Health were also present on the occasion.
