KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association appreciated the Indian government for issuing medical and neonatal visa to an ailing Pakistani boy.

The Indian government had imposed unannounced ban on issuance of medical visas to Pakistani citizens, which chiefly affected those who had got approval from hospitals in Chennai and Delhi and were about to take their ailing children across the border.

“A significant number of such children are still waiting for the change of heart from the Indian government vis-a-vis allowing Pakistanis to get treatment, which the Indian hospitals are offering with greater expertise at cheaper rates,” said a PMA official.

He added that more than 500 children had been treated in Indian hospitals last year.

The PMA statement said thousands of Pakistanis wanting treatment for liver and heart-related ailments at major hospitals in New Delhi, Chennai and other Indian cities had been affected due to non-issuance of medical visas.

“The PMA again demands for immediate issuance of visa to other patients who are anxiously waiting for their medical treatment in India,” said the statement.

Dr Qaisar Sajjad said the PMA hoped the Indian government would continue to issue medical visa to the Pakistani patients and would not link this to politics.

Last month, the PMA had condemned the ‘inhuman attitude’ of the Indian government for imposing unannounced ban on the issuance of medical visas to Pakistani citizens.

“India has crossed all limits of humanity,” the PMA had said, showing concerns over the situation that would affect thousands of Pakistanis travelling to India for treatment of various diseases.

PMA president Dr Ashraf Nizami said children were children whether they belonged to Pakistan or India. “The children who are suffering from deadly diseases should not be discriminated against. Politics should not prove to be an obstacle in way of our children. They have the right to be a healthy part of our society.”

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2017