KARACHI: Riyadh seeks Pakistan’s support in health sector
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, June 21: Saudi Arabia wants to promote collaboration with Pakistan in the fields of research and healthcare delivery, said Saudi deputy minister for health, who is at present on a visit to Pakistan. The Saudi deputy minister for health, Dr Obeid Suleman Al-Obeid, was given a dinner reception at the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) on Monday.
In his speech and talks with the newsmen, the ministers said the purpose of his recent visit to Pakistan was to strengthen the relationship with the Pakistani ministry of health and to identify potential areas of cooperation.
He said that the Saudi health ministry was looking for collaborations in various fields of research, pharmaceutical industry and general healthcare.
We are also keen to acquire the services of Pakistani scientists and medical faculty for our research institutions and medical colleges and some development in this regard has already been made, he added.
The Saudi minister said that Saudi Arabia had 12 medical colleges, including the one established in Riyadh about two years back, which was being run exclusively by the Health Ministry. Last year we admitted 40 students, while the latest intake is around 50, he added, saying that the number of medical colleges would be increased to 15 soon and as such there would be a need of faculty members and related manpower as well.
He said that Pakistan’s health ministry’s reactions towards the enhancement of collaborations in the health sector so far had been excellent.
CPSP President Prof M Sultan Farooqui in his address of welcome said that in the last decade the college had acquired national and international recognition.
The qualifications awarded by the CPSP are recognized by different countries, including Saudi Arabia, he added.
Prof Farooqui mentioned that the CPSP had also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Council for Health Specialities, which among other activities also recognized the CPSP qualifications at par with the MRCP and FRCS awarded by the Royal Colleges of UK for the purpose of appointment as Medial Consultant in Saudi Arabia.
He expressed the hope that the visit of Dr Obeid would open new avenues for further collaboration in the health sector between the two brotherly countries.
The visiting Saudi minister will visit the National Institute of Child Health on Wednesday.
