ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National Assembly was informed on Wednesday that about 148,000 new cases of cancer are being diagnosed every year in the Country.
However the exact number of cancer patients at present in the Country is not known, the Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Farhana Qamar told the Lower House of the Parliament while responding to a question during question hour.
The Parliamentary Secretary said that the ministry has taken various steps including preventive measures as well as treatment of cancer patients.
Farhana Qamar said that polio eradication has been declared as national public health emergency in the country since 2011.
Moreover she said that a National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) is accordingly being implemented across the Country under the direct oversight of National Task Force headed by the Prime Minister and having on board all Provincial Chief Ministers, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Prime Minister of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
The Parliamentary Secretary said that there is no proposal under consideration of the ministry to construct a federal government hospital in Thar and Hyderabad, Sindh.
Responding to another question, she said that the government has approved the policy regarding medical treatment abroad.
The policy covers the treatment of members of the Parliament, the federal government servant and employees of Public Sector Corporations, autonomous bodies under the control of the federal government, she added.
