Expand PM Health Program to all parts of country: Khaqan

• Formulate a comprehensive plan for expanding outreach of program;
• Further simplify mechanism of registration of drugs & pricing policy 
• PM, CM Punjab, others strongly condemn act of terror in Barcelona;
• No Pakistani citizen reported killed in the attack, says Foreign Office

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday directed Ministry of National Health Services to formulate a comprehensive plan for expanding outreach of Prime Minister's National Health program to all parts of the country and to provide relief to the poor segments of the society. 

Prime Minister further directed that the regulatory mechanism regarding registration of drugs and pricing policy should be further simplified as to facilitate drugs manufacturers and create a win-win situation for the consumers as well as the drugs producers and importers. 

Comprehensive proposals should be placed before the Cabinet and necessary legislation, in case needed, be put in place for addressing the issues being faced vis-à-vis further facilitating drugs regulatory regime in the country, directed the Prime Minister. 

Taking note of existing backlog in the registration and price fixation of various drugs, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry to present a roadmap within 24 hours with specified timelines for clearing the backlog. 

These directions were passed by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while chairing a meeting on issues related to Ministry of National Health Services here at Prime Minister's Office today. 

Mrs. Saira Afzal Tarar, Minister for National Health Services and senior officials of the Ministry attended the meeting. 

Briefing the Prime Minister, the Minister for National Health Services informed that the Government has undertaken major reforms especially in last over two years in diverse areas including introduction of a comprehensive Drug Pricing Policy, launching of Prime Minister's National Health Program, increase in coverage of children vaccinated under Expanded Program on Immunization, significant reduction of polio cases in the country, launch of Prime Minister's  Program  for the treatment of Fatal diseases, successful negotiation under National Immunization Support Program for financial sustainability of immunization services of women and  children. 

Prime Minister's National Health Program which was started in 26 districts in the first phase would be covering over 03 million families and is the largest public health initiative in the country, informed the Minister. 

The Prime Minister appreciated the progress being made under the National Health Program and directed the Ministry to work closely with the provincial governments in order to expand its outreach. 

Discussing issues concerning DRAP, the Prime Minister observed that regulatory policies and framework should aim at facilitating international as well as local drugs manufacturers and aim at promoting healthy competition among the producers. 

He said that that the government is endeavoring to put in place a congenial environment for the businesses to flourish and markets to grow further. He observed that the regulators' job was to protect the consumers and facilitate business community to the maximum possible extent. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has strongly condemned the terror attack in Barcelona.

He said Spain and its people have a long history of multiculturalism and they cannot be scared by such attacks. The Prime Minister said the terrorists will lose as long as they underestimate spirit of the societies they seek to undermine.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has also strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Barcelona. In a statement in Lahore, he expressed profound grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives.  

He said terrorism is an international issue and it must be dealt with coordinated efforts.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Office also condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the cowardly terrorist attack at Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain, in which a van ploughed through pedestrians resulting in several deaths and injuries to many innocent people. 

The Government of Pakistan would like to convey profound sympathies for the families and friends of the victims of this terrible act and wish speedy recovery to those injured. 

According to information received from the Embassy of Pakistan in Madrid and the Consulate General in Barcelona, there are no reports of any Pakistanis among the dead or injured. Our Missions in Madrid and Barcelona have set up situation rooms, which will continue to operate until required. - NNI