ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to enhance cooperation in the public health sector, including medical education and drug manufacturing. Besides, both sides stressed the need for vaccination of humans and animals crossing the borders between the two countries.

According to an official statement released on Sunday, Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar, who has been visiting Iran these days, during meetings with her Iranian counterpart Dr Seyyed Hassan Qazizadeh Hashmi and other officials from the health sector, stressed for the cooperation.

She said that family planning, primary public health, pharmaceuticals, polio eradication, controlling infectious and non-infectious diseases and Iran’s health insurance system and health reform plan are areas in which both countries can collaborate and benefit from each other’s experiences.

Tarar holds meetings with Iranian officials in Tehran

The minister also stressed the need for vaccination of humans and animals crossing borders between the two countries.

Both sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in the public health sector, including medical education, and follow upon the MoUs signed between the two countries, when President Hassan Rouhani visited Islamabad in March last year.

APP adds: Earlier on Sunday, Ms Tarar reached Tehran on a three-day official visit at the invitation of Dr Hashmi.

Among those Ms Tarrar held meeting with also included President of Iran Health Insurance Organisation Mohebati and President of Iran Food and Drug Administration Dr Asghari in which possibilities of cooperation between the two countries in the public health sector came under discussion.

The minister lauded the universal public health coverage of Iran as an example in the region.

The Iranian health minister expressed his gratitude to the government of Pakistan on sending condolences and humanitarian assistance for the victims of the recent earthquake in Karmanshah.

Ms Tarar visited Tehran Heart Centre and Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Centre in Tehran.

Later, the minister left for Isfahan, where she will hold meeting with Chancellor of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and visit Cardio Vascular Diseases Research Centre and rural and urban health centres.

The minister is accompanied by Dr Asad Hafeez, DG Health, Dr Faisal Rafiq, Director Technical, Prime Minister National Health Programme, Sher Gul Khan, Chief Planning Officer, Dr Amir Rafiq Khatak, Coordinator in Social Health Protection Initiative, Dr Hafiz Uddin Pathan, Zonal Head State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan, Haroon Ibrahim, Deputy General Manager, Green Star Social Marketing and Dr Zulfiqar Khan, SHO National Professional officer.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2017