Pakistan, Iran to enhance cooperation in public health sector

Saira Tarar holds meeting with Iranian health minister in Tehran

ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Health Services, Regulation and Co-ordination Saira Afzal Tarar on Sunday discussed with Iranian officials the possibilities of cooperation between the two countries in the public health sector.

The minister, who is in Tehran on a three-day official visit at the invitation of her counterpart Dr Seyyed Hassan Qazizadeh Hashmi, held meetings with Iranian Health Minister Dr Hashmi; Moohebati, President of Iran Health Insurance Organisation (IHIO); Dr Asghari, president of Iran Food and Drug Administration and other Iranian officials from the health sector, says a fax message received from Tehran on Sunday.

The minister lauded the universal public health coverage of Iran as an example in the region and said “family planning, primary public health, pharmaceuticals, polio eradication, controlling infectious and non-infectious diseases and Iran’s health insurance system and health reform plan are areas in which both countries can collaborate and benefit from each other’s experiences.



Both sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in the public health sector, including medical education and follow upon the memoranda of understanding signed between the two countries, when Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visited Islamabad in March last year.

The Iranian health minister expressed his gratitude to the government of Pakistan on sending condolences and humanitarian assistance for the victims of the recent earthquake in Karmanshah.

Earlier, Saira Afzal Tarar visited the Tehran Heart Centre and Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Centre in Tehran.

Later, the minister left for Isfahan, where she will hold meeting with the Chancellor of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and visit Cardio Vascular Diseases Research Centre and Rural and Urban Health Centres.

The minister is accompanied by Dr Asad Hafeez, DG Health; Dr Faisal Rafiq, Director Technical, Prime Minister National Health Programme; Sher Gul Khan, Chief Planning Officer; Dr Amir Rafiq Khatak, Coordinator in Social Health Protection initiative; Dr Hafizuddin Pathan, Zonal Head, State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan; Haroon Ibrahim, Deputy General Manager, Green Star Social Marketing; and Dr Zulfiqar Khan, SHO, National Professional officer.