Pakistan to Spearhead Campaign to Strengthen ‘Health Emergency Systems’ in Poor Countries: Minister

Wed Dec 27 2023
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ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Federal Minister for Health, Dr Nadeem Jan, on ‘International Day of Epidemic Preparedness’ today stressed the importance of collective efforts and said that Pakistan would play its leading part in strengthening the health emergency systems in poor countries by hosting its first global health security Summit.

Talking to a Private news channel, the health minister disclosed that the ‘Global Health Security Summit’ is scheduled for January 10 and 11 in the federal capital of Pakistan. He added that during the summit, Pakistan will finalize a strategic roadmap to effectively address health emergencies and epidemics within the country.

The minister asserted that this summit will showcase Pakistan’s pivotal role in the health sector, working towards safeguarding populations from global epidemics. He underscored ongoing efforts to enhance the availability of medicines, resources, and infrastructure while also boosting production capacity.

Responding to a query, he expressed Pakistan’s readiness to contribute to relevant initiatives at UN and WHO platforms. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing countries for equitable distribution of vaccines and medicines, along with building their fiscal capacity to combat pandemics.

Furthermore, he announced Pakistan’s plans to establish a ‘global pandemic financial facilities forum’ soon, aiming to provide equal opportunities and distribute resources fairly to low-income countries for managing epidemics.

The minister assured that this international summit would positively portray Pakistan globally. He stressed the urgent need for collaborative efforts in addressing health challenges, improving the performance of health systems, and fostering cooperation to mitigate the impact of climate change on global health.  —APP

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