ISLAMABAD: Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Tuesday held a meeting with a Chinese delegation to explore collaborative opportunities in the realms of healthcare and skill development.

The Chinese delegation led by Ms Scarlet, head OPH healthcare project, presented a proposed project by GAREA Group, a renowned provider of integrated solutions for digital products and services in primary healthcare.

The proposed project will provide affordable healthcare services in remote areas through the strategic deployment of AI-based cloud computing, thereby reducing costs and enhancing access to accurate diagnoses.

A notable feature of the project is the introduction of a portable diagnostic machine, capable of diagnosing 7-8 types of diseases, which will significantly reduce transportation costs and increase accessibility. Furthermore, the project’s digital platform will enable seamless communication between patients, doctors and medical stores.

Reports will be directly shared with doctors on the panel, and prescriptions will be shared with medical stores, facilitating the direct delivery of medication to patients. This initiative has already yielded promising results in Indonesia, where it has augmented doctors’ earnings by increasing the daily patient check-up ratio from eight to 37.

The meeting culminated in a consensus to formalise the partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between OPH and the Ministry of Health. This MoU will serve as a foundational framework for coordinated efforts, aligning both ministries toward shared objectives of skill development and healthcare advancement.

The minister said such partnerships are instrumental in upgrading the skill sets of Pakistanis, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in the global job market.

The minister expressed unequivocal support for the initiatives, underscoring the government’s unwavering commitment to equipping individuals with advanced skills to meet the evolving demands of the global labour market.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2024