Mamnoon calls for improving public healthcare

Asks institutions to focus on research to make medical treatment accessible and affordable

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain Thursday said the government was committed to provide affordable medical healthcare to people.

Addressing the 35th undergraduate convocation of Army Medical College under the auspices of National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), he said the government in this regard has launched the National Health Programme for the people. Adjutant General, Lt Gen Anwar Ali Haider, Vice Chancellor NUMS Lt Gen Syed Mohammad Imran Majeed, Surgeon General Lt Gen Asif Mumtaz Sukhera and Principal Army Medical College Maj Gen Saleem Ahmed Khan were present on the occasion.

The president said medicine was a sacred profession and it was the responsibility of medical practitioners and professionals to work with dedication in alleviating the sufferings of the ailing and needy.

Mamnoon regretted that the state medical facilities were not up to the standard and noted the non-availability of medical facilities in marginalised and far-flung areas of the country.

He termed it a serious issue and emphasised that in this regard the role of welfare institutions and doctors was of great significance.

The president said the government was undertaking measures to improve healthcare apparatus and facilities across the country. He urged medical institutions to benefit from research of eminent international institutions and aid the government in reforming the health sector.

Mamnoon asked the medical institutions to focus on research to make medical treatment accessible and affordable and added NUMS and allied institutions can play an important role in this regard.

Congratulating the students on successful completion of their degrees, the president urged them to keep working hard and upon entering practical life serve their country and nation with sincerity and commitment.

He expressed optimism that graduating students would come up to the expectations of their parents, teachers and the nation. The president said that medical professionals and doctors should serve the people in good faith and with humility to earn their goodwill.

He said women constitute more than half of the country’s population and appreciated that female students were excelling in all fields of life. He emphasised that women be given equal opportunities to enable them effectively contribute in country’s progress and development.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2017.