Pakistan ‘keen’ to work with Iran to curb NCDs

SAPM Dr Zafar Mirza meets Iranian Deputy Health Minister Bagher Larijani

ISLAMABAD: The premier’s aide on health has expressed the desire to work closely with Iran for the eradication of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the two countries and for greater cooperation with the neighbouring state for strengthening the country’s health system.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr Zafar Mirza said this on Thursday while meeting with a high-level delegation led by Iran Deputy Minister for Health & Medical Education Professor Bagher Larijani at the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations & Coordination (NCHR&C).

The meeting was also attended by Director General Health Services Dr Assad Hafeez and the NCD focal persons at federal and provincial levels.

Speaking to the delegation, Dr Mirza expressed satisfaction over Pakistan -Iran collaboration in the health sector. He expressed his desire to work closely with his Iranian counterpart in further strengthening the existing partnership especially with regard to the NCDs.

Dr Assad Hafeez briefed the delegation on demographic background and burden of diseases in Pakistan. He also gave an overview of the Universal Health Coverage-Benefit Package (UHC-BP) and prioritization of the NCDs interventions in Pakistan.

Pakistan in July this year was selected as the first pilot country in the world to develop Universal Health Coverage-Benefit Package (UHC-BP) based on Disease Control Priorities (DCP-3) interventions.

Representatives of the provincial/area departments of health also shared their status of the burden of the NCDs and the initiatives for different NCD programmes in respective provinces.

Larijani gave an overview of the health system of Iran that is run by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) through its network of health establishments and medical schools in the country. He said strengthening inter-sectorial collaboration in the NCD agenda could deliver effective outcomes.

Dr Mirza said Pakistan has started developing a national action plan for control of the NCDs and mental health. He showed his keen interest in exchange of delegations with Iran and follow-up actions on agreed agendas and called for more cooperation for strengthening the country’s health system.