RAWALPINDI, Dec 21: US Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker Thursday announced a 20 per cent increase in the number of visas issued to the medical graduates seeking higher education in America.

He was speaking at 27th annual winter conference organised by the Association of Physicians of Pakistani-descent of North America (APPNA) at Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC). Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was also present on the occasion.

The ambassador said Pakistani American doctors had played an important role in the medical profession and also contributed to the US efforts to develop heath sector in Pakistan. He said APPNA had also played an important in building a bridge between Pakistani and American people.

The ambassador said the US government had allocated $117 million from 2003 to 2007 for improving the health sector in Pakistan. He assured US help to Pakistan in mother-child health care and also provision of clean drinking water and eradication of polio, Aids and TB from the country.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the health reform programme initiated by the provincial government was aimed at providing health facilities to common people at their door steps.

He said doctors were the back-bone in any health care system and the government was committed to giving them good working environment so that they could deliver their services to the people in an efficient manner.

He said the salaries and perks of doctors and paramedical staff had been increased to ensure their availability at health institutions, particularly primary and rural health centres. The chief minister said the government was providing special incentives to retain and hire talented doctors to make public health sector more efficient.

Mr Elahi urged the doctors to promote research culture in medical colleges, adding that the government had issued special funds for the purpose. He said cardiology centres being set up at Multan, Faislabad and Wazirabad would become functional soon, while a burn centre had been set up at the Holy Family Hospital.

He appreciated the services of APPNA in health sector, especially in the quake-hit areas.

APPNA President Dr Abdul Rashid Paracha highlighted the contribution of the association towards improving the health services in Pakistan, especially in quake-hit areas. He stressed the need for health education for promoting healthy life style in the country.

Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated orthopaedic operation theatre at Rawalpindi General Hospital. The operation theatre has been set up with the help of APPNA.