LAHORE: Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that in order to make thalassaemia programme more effective, advanced training of staff will be arranged.

Presiding over a meeting held on Monday to review thalassaemia programme here, the minister said that by raising awareness among public thalassaemia could be mostly avoided.

“It is a genetic problem and in case of cousin marriage, blood test before wedding is important way of prevention,” she said.

Directing that blood donation drive should be continued on permanent basis, Dr Yasmin said that all problems confronted by thalassaemia programme would be solved.

“During the current year an amount of Rs100 million has been spent (on the programme) and the Punjab government will be moved to allocate another Rs70 million,” said the minister.

Meanwhile, the minister advised the doctors to continue updating their knowledge by studying research work in health sciences even after starting practice.

During a briefing by Project Management Unit (PMU) on Monday, Dr Yasmin said that advanced training of CT scan technicians must be arranged.

She said that it should be made mandatory for the companies supervising outsourced healthcare facilities to extend their expertise to health department.

The minister directed that process of issuance of health insurance cards in all districts should be completed by the end of November.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2018