PTA announces free calls to Ministry of National Health Services helpline

Calls that are being made to 1166 helpline are now made free to help people in the midst of coronavirus pandemic.

“Update: All calls being made to the Ministry of National Health Services helpline: 1166 have been declared free. PTA has issued directions to all operators for not charging calls to 1166,” wrote Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Twitter.

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Update📞: All calls being made to Ministry of National Health Services helpline: 1166 have been declared free. PTA has issued directions to all operators for not charging calls to 1166.#COVID19Pakistan#EhtiyatCorona

— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) March 25, 2020

PTA on the request of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (MoNHSRC) is also sending out SMS alerts to people who might have come in contact with COVID-19 affected individuals during traveling or at other places.

Those who receive the message should call 1166 helpline and visit the nearest hospital to get them checked in case of having symptoms such as fever, cough, and problem in breathing and pain in the body.

'Coronaalert': PTA is sending SMS alerts to people at risk of COVID-19 infection

Tania Aidrus, Head of Digital Pakistan also encouraged people to take this message seriously and go into self-isolation.

Aidrus announced that citizens will be able to get free consultations via health operators @SehatKahani & @Bimamobile in efforts to combat COVID-19.

 

Pakistan's telemedicine & m-health operators - @SehatKahani & @Bimamobile have agreed to provide free consultation to everyone in our fight against #COVID19.

I invite other platforms to join the cause & request the youth to help elders reduce physical exposure & utilize e-health pic.twitter.com/zKTPdqECzu

— Tania Aidrus (@taidrus) March 20, 2020