President assures govt’s support to set up Centre of Excellence for eye diseases

Islamabad: President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday assured the Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan of the government's support for the establishment of a centre of excellence on eye diseases.

The assurance was made by the president during a meeting with a delegation of the Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan at the Aiwan-i-Sadr here. Professor Ziaul Islam led the delegation, which comprised general secretary of the society Dr Mahfooz Hussain, Professor Shahid Wahab, Professor Muhammad Daud Khan, Professor Mazhar Qayyum, Professor Mazhar Ishaq and Professor Imtiaz Ali Shah. The president told the visitors that the government would legislate on corneal transplant and promote research to ensure quality treatment of eye problems.

He urged the private sector to mobilise for the establishment of the centre of excellence for eye diseases. The president praised the Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan for supporting programmes meant to improve the knowledge and skills of ophthalmologists in the country to provide better patient care and management on eye diseases.

He expressed the hope that the efforts would continue in future and said the government would extend all possible support to the Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan in that respect. The delegation thanked the president for his keen interest in the affairs of the society and said the organisation would continue striving to improve the professional skills of its members, encourage meaningful research and provide quality eye care to the people.