PAFP delegation calls on Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman

Lahore: A delegation of Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP) led by President Tariq Mehmood Mian met Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman here today at Governor House Lahore.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman said that family physicians have an important role in primary healthcare. He said that by strengthening the family medicine department, not only many diseases can be controlled, but patients' burden on hospitals can be  reduced as well.

Governor Punjab appreciated the role of Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians in strengthening the department of family medicine and also in training doctors to upgrade their professional skills and clinical knowledge. He said that special steps are being taken to promote the department family medicine in medical universities.

Governor Punjab said that the department of family medicine has been set up and made functional in Fatima Jinnah University under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Khalid Masood Gondal. He expressed hope that it would yield encouraging results. He said that the alarming increase in the rate of diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure in Pakistan is a matter of grave concern.

Governor Punjab said that strengthening the family medicine and primary health sector would improve the health and well-being of patients by promoting preventive measures at the gross root level. He further stated that family physicians have rendered valuable services during earthquakes and floods, including covid epidemic and dengue.

On this occasion, President of Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians Tariq Mehmood Mian said that the aim of the Association of Family Physicians is to raise the quality of primary health care and equip family physicians with the best skills in medical practice. The delegation comprised Dr. Saeed Ahmed, Dr. M. Tahir Chaudhry, Dr. Naheed Nadeem, Dr. Sajjad Ahmed Malik, Dr. M. Asim Shafiq, Dr. Abdul Rahman and Dr. Captain Ashfaq Qureshi.