Federal Minister for Health Abdul Qadir Patel held a meeting with Iranian Minister of Health & Medical Education Dr Bahram Einollahi on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva.
Patel said that Pakistan and Iran enjoy long-standing brotherly relations, and both countries have a commonality of views on global public health issues. Enhanced consultation and coordination would be useful, he added.
He also said that Iran has carried out excellent reforms in the health sector, especially in terms of improving healthcare services. Iran has done commendable work in extending health insurance coverage, he added.
He further said that the situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic necessitates stepped up bilateral cooperation and exchange of views. He added that achieving international public health security is a key objective though the challenges of funding sources and priorities remain.
Patel said that Pakistan believes that there is a need for enhanced international cooperation and assistance to strengthen national health systems and to ensure all people enjoy the basic right to health.
Both dignitaries considered areas of cooperation, including enhanced cross-border cooperation for infectious diseases control, and exchange of experts for technical assistance on universal health coverage focusing on strengthening public health and primary health care delivery.
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They also considered an exchange of healthcare financing experts for lesson sharing and guidance for developing healthcare financing policies, cooperation in medical training and research, and assisting medical professionals by granting fellowships from respective institutions. They further discussed cooperation in developing mental health infrastructure and training regarding mental health services in outreach facilities.
During the meeting, it was highlighted that in the global health context, both countries should work closely with other EMRO member states and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to ensure the realisation of tangible measures to ensure that health remains at the forefront of the global development agenda.
For this purpose, it was agreed that the respective missions of both countries in Geneva may work closely, especially on important matters like the upcoming negotiations on the proposed pandemic treaty, International Health Regulations amendments, and sustainable finances of WHO.
Pakistan has recently been selected as one of the recipients of mRNA technology. “Once this arrangement matures, we would help expand vaccine supply to EMRO region and beyond,” Patel shared.
The two sides decided to form a joint working group to further explore opportunities. Pakistan’s director-general of health and the Iranian health minister’s special assistant was identified as focal persons from both sides.
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