ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Health and Sehat Kahani on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on telemedicine, with Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal saying the ministry had crossed another milestone in improving access to healthcare.
Addressing the MoU signing ceremony, the minister said the first phase of the telemedicine initiative had been completed and the second phase was now being launched.
He said 10 telemedicine centres had been established in the first phase in collaboration with Sehat Kahani, while 10 more centres were being opened under the second phase. He added that the scope of telemedicine would be further expanded.
Mustafa Kamal said 500 new doctors had been added to the telemedicine system, while doctors’ fees were being paid by Sehat Kahani.
The minister said modern technology was being fully utilised to provide quality healthcare facilities to the people. He said all available resources were being used to deliver health services to citizens at their doorstep.
He said the old emergency department of PIMS hospital would be shifted to the new emergency department within a few days. A state-of-the-art telemedicine facility would be established in the old emergency area of PIMS, he added.
Mustafa Kamal said every effort was being made to improve the life of the common man. He said telemedicine had so far helped the public save Rs70 million.
“In this era of inflation, the facility of good doctors is becoming available at people’s doorsteps,” the health minister said.
He said the promotion of telemedicine would reduce the burden of patients on major hospitals. The minister added that the primary healthcare system was being strengthened through telemedicine.
Mustafa Kamal said the government was committed to ensuring universal health and that the process of reforms in the health sector was continuing at a fast pace.
