LAHORE: German experts will extend cooperation for the development of pediatric surgery in Pakistan, especially in Punjab. The collaboration will be extended to enhance the facilities of pediatric surgery in the hospitals and capacity building/training of the doctors. This was announced in a meeting between the four-member German delegation headed by Prof Claus Peterson and the Minister Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique and Minister Primary and Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir on Saturday. Secretary Najam Ahmed Shah, Secretary Ali Jan Khan, Health DG Dr Akhtar Rasheed Malik, Additional Secretaries (Technical) of both the Health Departments, Dr Salman Shahid, Dr Asim Altaf, Dean Children Hospital Prof Dr Masood Sadiq, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Prof Dr Qazi Saeed, Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof Dr Khalid Masood Gondal, Prof Dr Ahsan Waheed Rathore, Prof of Peads Surgery Children Hospital Prof Dr Saleem, Chief Executive Punjab Public Health Agency Dr Shabnam Sarfraz, CEO Health Lahore Dr Yadullah and other concerned officers attended the meeting. Prof Shabnam Sarfraz, Prof Saleem and Prof Masood Sadiq briefed the German delegation regarding the available facilities of pediatric surgery in Pakistan particularly in the hospitals of Punjab. They were of the view that available facilities are not sufficient according to the population. They were also informed that there is a dearth of pediatric surgeons in Pakistan. Minister Primary & Secondary Health informed the delegation that government has desired to extend pediatric treatment and surgical facilities in DHQ and THQ hospitals for which work has been started. Imran Nazir said that collaboration and technical assistance offered by the German experts would be a good omen for the promotion and development in the health sector through which new initiatives could be taken. Minister Specialised Healthcare Salman Rafique welcomed the German collaboration for the capacity building and training of human resource and strengthening of pediatric surgery facilities in the public sector hospitals. Secretary Health Najam Ahmed Shah was of the view that collaboration between German experts and Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department would be very beneficial for the local experts in their training capacity building and introduction to the new technology. Najam Ahmed Shah further said that as a result of initiatives taken by the Specialized Healthcare Department, doctors are coming for specialization in such specialties which were previously ignored badly. During the stay in Lahore, the German delegation would visit Children Hospital Lahore, District Headquarters Hospital Sheikhupura. Published in Daily Times, January 14th 2018.