PPP government to formulate health policy: Sherry

ISLAMABAD : Minister for Health Sherry Rehman on Wednesday said the PPP government will formulate a health policy for five years to ensure that health facilities are also provided in rural areas. Speaking during the Question Hour in the Senate, she said in the past false promises were made for health cover to the masses which were not possible in the meager budget.
“These promises were politically motivated by those who were not answerable to the public. It was an insult to the parliament,” she said adding there was no health policy in the country for the last eight years.
Replying to a question, she said the services for the indoor admitted patients at the sub-health centre of Polyclinic in sector G-7/3-4 were closed because as these were technically and financially not feasible.
She said the ward was being used for neurology patients which cannot work in isolation away from specialised hospital services like intensive care, cardiac care, surgery and other similar services.
Outpatient and diagnostic services, she added, continue to be offered there.
She said the ward was shifted when some construction work was going on in Polyclinic hospital.
After the completion of construction, 25 beds have been shifted back to Polyclinic, she said.
In response to another question, she said there is no increase in five to 10 percent duty on medicines.
Sherry said medicines for cancer, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, kidney dialysis, kidney transplant, thalassemia, vaccines, anti sera and interferon can be imported on zero duty.
The health ministry, she said, is going to start an awareness campaign for hepatitis and HIV AIDS.
She said the government does not have many resources for free treatment of hepatitis which cost Rs 10,000.
She said interferon, which is used for treatment of hepatitis is being imported at zero duty and the government will ask the UN to allow an increase in its import.