Global Fund approached to enhance TB treatment facilities

LAHORE

Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Raffique has said the Health Department has approached its International Partner “Global Fund” for further strengthening of the financial cooperation for enhancing diagnostic and treatment facilities for the Tuberculosis (TB) patients at public sector hospitals and health centres.

He stated this while presiding over a meeting with Prof. Abdul Bari, Chief Recipient of Global Fund and Head of Indus Hospital Karachi, says a handout issued on Thursday. Director General Health Punjab Dr. Mukhtar Hussain Syed, Director Punjab TB Control Programme Dr. Abdul Majeed and other concerned officers were present in the meeting. 

The meeting reviewed steps taken for the control of TB in Punjab and diagnostic and treatment facilities extended to the patients. Dr. Abdul Majeed Ch briefed the meeting regarding the awareness programme and TB control activities. He said the Punjab government, with the help of Global Fund, was providing free medical treatment facilities and medicine to such patients under the TB DOTS Programme.

Khawaja Salman Raffique stressed the need for an effective publicity/awareness campaign against TB so that people could take steps to prevent disease.

Khawaja Salman Raffique shared his view with Prof. Abdul Bari for further extending the treatment facilities and provision of diagnostic medical equipment for this purpose.

He said due to effective and vigorous surveillance, the ratio of detection and registration of TB patients had increased in Punjab therefore the Global Fund should also enhance their cooperation.

Prof. Abdul Bari assured that he would put all his efforts to enhance the funding from Global Fund to provide additional facilities to the TB patients.

Meanwhile, the dviser chaired a meeting to review price-hike situation of medicines.

DG Health Dr. Mukhtar Hussain Syed and officers of the Provincial Quality Control Board attended the meeting. it was informed that some pharmaceutical companies approached the Sindh High Court for enhancing the prices.

The Punjab government is in contact with the federal government to solve the issue of increase in prices of medicines. Khawaja Salman Raffique said though the registration and fixation of medicine price was a federal subject and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) dealt with these issues, however the Punjab government was in contact with the federal government to convey difficulties faced by the common man due to price-hike of medicines.

The Punjab government has also shared its concern with the federal government on this issue so that some clear strategy can be evolved to check the prices of medicines.

Delegation: A delegation of an NGO called on Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, in his office, according to a handout issued here on Thursday.

Director General Health Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed, Director Headquarters Dr Abdul Razzaq and Dr Abdul Majeed Chaudhry, Director Health Services were also present in the meeting.

The delegation exchanged views with the Adviser on Health regarding cooperation in the fields of health and nutrition. Kh Salman Rafique applauded the services of the NGO for provision of artificial limbs to special persons and providing shelters and other relief to the flood affectees in the Southern Punjab.