Public health: MoU inked with China for cooperation on liver diseases

LAHORE: A memorandum of understanding was signed between the provincial government and the Liver Transplant Centre of Beijing Friendship Hospital at Model Town on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was the chief guest on the occasion. Chinese Consul General Yu Borne was also present.

Under the agreement, the Chinese institution would extend cooperation to the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute. It would help train doctors, nurses, technicians, transplant coordinators and other staff in the treatment of liver diseases.

Specialised Health and Medical Education Secretary Najam Ahmed Shah and Zhu Zhi Jun, head of the Liver Transplant Centre of Beijing Friendship Hospital, signed the documents.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said he had visited Beijing Friendship Hospital in China and had sought their cooperation in the health sector.

He said a team from the hospital had visited Lahore soon after his visit and had agreed to ink an agreement.

“This institute has expertise in treatment of liver diseases. The provincial government will greatly benefit from their experience,” he said.

He said Chinese experts would also Sheikh Zayed Hospital and supervise liver transplant surgeries.

Agriculture Commission

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over the first meeting of the Punjab Agriculture Commission on Wednesday.

The meeting reviewed the Kissan package and the steps taken for welfare of farmers.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that he had promised to set up an agriculture commission for farmers. He said the Punjab Agriculture Commission had been constituted for uplift of the agriculture sector and to chalk out an agriculture policy.

He said a secretariat for the commission would be set up soon.

“The government has provided fair representation to farmers in the commission. It will allow us to resolve their through consultation,” he said.

He said a committee under the chairmanship of Agriculture University Faisalabad vice chancellor would be set up to devise an agriculture policy.

“Farmers will get representation in that committee as well so that all stakeholders are consulted in this process,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2016.