Pakistan, US to deepen health cooperation in diverse areas: Qadir Patel

Washington: Minister for National Health Services Abdul Qadir Patel says Pakistan and United States will deepen their health cooperation in areas of immunization, nutrition, mother's health, and child survival.

Addressing US-Pakistan Health Dialogue hosted by US State Department in Washington, he said the two countries have also started collaborative effort to develop Centre for Disease Control in Pakistan.

Health Minister thanked the US administration for provision of 61.5 million COVID vaccines, 16 million pediatric vaccines and other equipment including protective kits and ventilators in country's fight against the pandemic.

He said that Pak-US cooperation during COVID pandemic clearly demonstrated that a robust Pak-US partnership in health sector could prove a bulwark against pandemic and diseases thus saving millions of precious human lives.

The Dialogue also highlighted donation of four mobile testing labs by the United States that would augment Pakistan's capacity in diagnosing COVID-19 and other communicable diseases, especially in the remote areas. The USAID will also undertake new programs in Pakistan under Global Health Security Agenda.

It was also decided to strengthen cooperation between US' Food and Drug Administration and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.

The US Centre for Disease Control will also help NIH in strengthening disease data center in Pakistan.

The next session of the US-Pakistan Health Dialogue is planned to be held in Pakistan.