ISLAMABAD, May 6: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Tuesday an action plan has been finalized for improving health care system in the country.

He requested the doctors and medical specialists to volunteer themselves to serve the people in the rural areas and make the action plan successful.

Speaking at the 38th convocation of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan (CPSP), the prime minister regretted that majority of the rural population was not getting proper medical facilities owing to the non-availability of required number of doctors and specialists. “It is a challenge for them to take out some of their precious time and serve in rural areas,” he said.

Mr Jamali said although provincial governments had taken measures and implemented reforms to improve the quality, accessibility and sustainability of public health care system, there was a need for more doctors and specialists in the rural areas.

The prime minister said in the 21st century Pakistan needed highly specialized professionals including doctors who should contribute, in whatever capacity they could, with a view to help the people. If every citizen devoted only five minutes for the nation, Pakistan would benefit immensely, he added.

Mr Jamali said that health care remained an important issue which needed careful attention of both the government and the doctors so that the people could be looked after properly.

He said that in the medical field, prominent doctors, specialists and professors were doing excellent job by giving time to serve the humanity, which he called Sadqa-i- Jaria.

The prime minister said that as doctors and specialists they should live for others. “This land has given us a lot and we owe to Pakistan to serve the people,” he added.