CAIRO: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health, Fahad bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel, on Monday assured full support for the new health initiatives in Pakistan.
He made this assurance during a meeting with the Caretaker Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Nadeem Jan, on the margins of the 70th Session of the WHO’s Regional Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, Egypt.
Senior officials from the Saudi Ministry of Health were also present during the meeting. He said that the bilateral fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are based on common faith and aspirations. On the occasion, Dr. Nadeem Jan talked about the possibility of mutual collaboration in the vaccine production capacity.
The Saudi Health Minister offered to provide help and support in developing vaccine production capacity in Pakistan. Both the ministers agreed for the exchange of expertise through a team of health experts to formalize the transfer of this technology.
Dr. Nadeem Jan thanked the Saudi minister for accommodating Pakistani doctors in Saudi Arabia. He discussed the possibility of an exchange of expertise and knowledge, particularly in the field of nursing and paramedics.
He agreed to send a high-level team from the Saudi Health Ministry to deliberate on the proposal and formalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard.
Dr Nadeem Jan also explained his idea of establishing a “Pharma Park” in Pakistan to develop the basic ingredients of medicines.
The Saudi minister lauded the idea and expressed his willingness to assist Pakistan in the establishment of the proposed Pharma Park.
Pakistan’s Measures for Polio Eradication
Dr Nadeem Jan also informed the Saudi Minister about the measures for polio eradication in Pakistan.
He underscored the localized operational hub and the newly revamped communication strategy for stopping the wild poliovirus circulation in high-risk zones.
The Saudi Health Minister appreciated the strategy for the eradication of polio from Pakistan.
