ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar has called for ensuring equality in the health sector so that poor and deprived sections of society could have access to top quality health services.

The minister was speaking at a meeting of Commonwealth ministers and health ministers from Eastern Mediterranean countries in Geneva, says a message received here on Sunday.

Also read: Tarar reports anti-polio success to Saarc

Ms Tarar, leading the Pakistani delegation at the World Health Assembly, referred to the national health insurance model recently introduced in the country to ensure access of the poor to top quality health services.

She informed the meeting about the national health policy framework being developed in the country in coordination with provincial governments, and called for an independent assessment of essential public health functions.

“Pakistan has taken effective steps in the area of polio eradication, having addressed issues like accessibility and insecurity,” the minister said.

A 10-year national action plan on mother and child health, she said, had been developed in coordination with provinces.

She appreciated the Leadership for Health Programme recently introduced by the World Health Organisation and said that it was very useful in developing a cohort of top quality public health leaders in Pakistan and other countries of the region.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2015

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