KARACHI, Jan 5: The government will launch a country-wide campaign against sale of fake medicines and practice of quackery so as to nab and punish the culprits, Federal Minister for Health Mohammad Naseer Khan said.

He was speaking at a dinner hosted in honour of examiners from within the country and abroad by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), a press release said on Sunday.

The minister said that the campaign to be launched next month would check the reported sale of fake medicines and practice of quackery.

He regretted that the country did not have enough health-care facilities, but added that the government was making efforts to promote research and training in medicinal field within available resources. He said the health policy would be implemented effectively and the state of affairs in hospitals and dispensaries would be improved.

He said the country would be made polio-free in June, while campaign against HIV/AIDS and hepatitis would be launched in February. For this purpose, he added, the government of Japan has given a grant of US$ 9.6 million.

He emphasized the need for establishing more colleges, like the CPSP, for higher education and training of doctors. The minister said Pakistani doctors were known and respected in the world for their high professional skills.

Mohammad Naseer praised the services of the CPSP since its establishment 40 years ago, during which it extended MCPS and FCPS training to over 9,000 doctors and has given affiliation to medical colleges from Bangladesh, Bhutan and Saudi Arabia.

He praised the efforts of CPSP President Prof Sultan Farooqui. Later, the minister gave away awards to the examiners, D. Sarath and Pshparaj Sharma, for their services.—APP