ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi directed the Ministry of National Health Services Friday for a comprehensive plan to expand outreach of PM’s National Health Programme across the country aimed at providing relief to poor segments of the society. The directions were passed by the PM, while chairing a meeting on issues related to Ministry of National Health Services here at the Prime Minister Office. The PM directed that the regulatory mechanism regarding registration of drugs and pricing policy be further simplified to facilitate drug manufacturers and create a win-win situation for the consumers, drugs producers and importers. Taking note of existing backlog in the registration and price fixation of various drugs, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry to present a roadmap within 24 hours with specified timeline for clearing the backlog. He called for placing before the Cabinet comprehensive proposals and necessary legislation, if required, for addressing the issues and improving the drugs regulatory regime in the country. Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar and senior officials of the ministry attended the meeting. Briefing the PM, the minister said that the government had undertaken major reforms especially in last over two years in diverse areas. She said these include introduction of a comprehensive Drug Pricing Policy, launching of PM’s National Health Programme, increase in coverage of children vaccinated under Expanded Programme on Immunisation, significant reduction of polio cases in the country. She also mentioned the launch of Prime Minister’s Programme for the treatment of fatal diseases, successful negotiation under National Immunisation Support Programme for financial sustainability of immunization services of women and children. The health minister said that the PM’s National Health Programme was started in 26 districts in the first phase. “It is covering over three million families. It is the largest public health initiative in the country,” she said. The PM appreciated the progress being made under the National Health Programme and directed the ministry to work closely with the provincial governments in order to expand its outreach. Published in Daily Times, August 19th 2017.