Pakistan to send medical team to Afghanistan

It will provide, install and maintain medical equipment at three Islamabad-funded hospitals

ISLAMABAD:

With the humanitarian crisis exacerbated in Afghanistan due to the advent of the winter season, Pakistan, in addition to giving an assistance of Rs5 billion and offering to host an extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, was taking urgent measures to cater to the healthcare needs of Afghans.

In addition to medical visa facilitation for patients at the crossing points and the provision of emergency life-saving medicines to Afghanistan, Pakistan has announced provision of medicines to the tune of Rs500 million at the earliest.

According to officials having the knowledge of the latest developments on Afghan humanitarian assistance, private pharmaceutical industry donors have also announced additional assistance of medicines worth Rs40 million for Afghanistan.

A Pakistani medical team will be visiting Afghanistan for the provision of medical equipment, its installation and maintenance for the three Pakistan-funded hospitals at Jalalabad, Logar and Kabul.

Besides, joint polio eradication coordination under the Polio Immunization Programme assistance, Pakistan has also agreed to give training for capacity enhancement and institutional building of Afghan healthcare system, the officials said.

A delegation from pharmaceutical industry will also visit Afghanistan for investment and to assist indigenous medicine production in Afghanistan.