KARACHI, April 2: Experts at the concluding session of the Saarc Congress of Cardiology 2006 issued a joint declaration demanding governments of the Saarc countries to increase health budgets for providing quality healthcare to their citizens.

The moot was organized by the Saarc Cardiac Society and hosted by Pakistan Cardiac Society. The three-day event was held at the Department of Cardiology, Liaquat National Hospital, aimed at raising awareness among the general physicians and to sensitize the masses on measures for the prevention of heart-related diseases.

Prof Mansoor Ahmed, President Saarc Cardiac Society, Prof Aneel Kumar (India) vice-president SAARC Congress of Cardiology, Dr Abdul Rasheed Khan, Secretary- General Saarc Congress of Cardiology, Dr W. S. Santharaj (Sri Lanka), Joint Secretary Saarc Congress of Cardiology, Dr Shahidul Alam (Bangladesh), Prof Fahmi (Afghanistan), Prof Nazir Memon, President Pakistan Cardiac Society and Prof Abdul Samad, Secretary Pakistan Cardiac Society spoke on the occasion and issued the declaration.

They demanded duty-free imports of surgical instruments and other medical equipment used in surgeries among the Saarc countries.

Issuing the joint declaration, experts said that health budgets in the Saarc countries were not sufficient to provide quality healthcare to the citizens, they said it must be increased several times to ensure socioeconomic development in the region.

They said that efforts should be made on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and mega projects aimed at creating public awareness should be launched at inter-state level among the Saarc countries.

They said that the print and electronic media should come forward in this regard in creating awareness among general public to avoid risk factors of cardiovascular diseases.

Experts demanded for a complete ban on smoking at public places, hospitals, schools, colleges, varsities, bus stops, railway stations and other places in the Saarc countries and there should be an official zeal and spirit in implementing the ban.

Services of health experts among the Saarc nations should be shared, so that affordable and quality healthcare could be provided to the people at cheapest rate.

They also said that relations among the Saarc countries should be strengthened more for ensuring free flow of modern medical technology among them.

They suggested that special cardiac units among the Saarc countries should be established at the district levels. — PPI