Karachi : Provincial Minister for Health Dr Azra Pechuho said that the Sindh
government extended its full support to the private sector for
promoting medical tourism across the country, aiming to benefit the
local healthcare sector and its contribution to the national economy.
Speaking as a chief guest at the inauguration of the 21st Health Asia
Exhibition and Conferences on Thursday, the provincial minister said
that the government maintained a major share in the country’s
healthcare sector, providing quality treatment not only to residents
but also to overseas Pakistanis and expatriates in different public
sector hospitals, mainly in Karachi.
She mentioned that the participation of foreign delegates and
exhibitors in this event depicted positive development for the
country’s healthcare industry, adding that the role of the private
sector is crucial and laudable.
Health experts and hospital caretakers unanimously vowed to promote
medical tourism across the country at the conference session of the
“Future Hospital – Inward Medical Tourism.” They were of the view that
Pakistani hospitals are doing treatments of Afghan and Iranian
nationals which could easily be enhanced to SAARC countries through
collaborative efforts of the government and the private.
Dr Abdul Bari, CEO of Indus Health Network, said Pakistani hospitals
maintained a good standard of quality treatment for patients,
including overseas Pakistanis and foreigners, provided that the
security situation of the country improved in major cities.
Arshad Qaim Khani, CEO and Prime Minister of the Health Program, said
that quality and affordable treatment is mandatory to promote medical
tourism in the country. On the other hand, the government should
provide logistics and security facilities for expatriates and foreign
visitors. The healthcare sector needs to improve its image of the
country and market services to attract patients from different
countries.
Project Director Health Asia Exhibition and Conferences Farhan Anis
said that the participation of local health experts and foreign
delegates at the event will help the healthcare sector address its
issues and challenges, elevating its standards to the next level.
He mentioned that various local companies have introduced
made-in-Pakistan high-tech equipment, apparatus, and machines to
exhibitors and visitors, which showed consistent progress and
localization in the healthcare sector.
