Daily Times

The Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan Justice (r) Nasirul Mulk along with Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination Muhammad Yousaf Sheikh on Thursday visited the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad.

On this occasion, NIH Executive Director Brigadier Professor Amir Ikram briefed about the mandate, functions and recent developments at NIH. He explained how NIH is working for prevention and control of different communicable diseases in Pakistan. The institute has been re-designated as National Public Health Institute (NPHI) and is undertaking successful implementation of five years’ road map of International Health Regulations, Global Health Security Agenda & Integrated Disease Surveillance & Response System (IDSRS) with One Health approach.

NIH has developed a National Laboratory Policy and a National Biosafety Policy and has also drafted a comprehensive Public Health Act. The prime minister highly appreciated the overall efforts by NIH. He was impressed with all the recent developments and initiatives. The PM also visited the newly established Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) and admired outbreak investigation and response system being developed at the EOC.

The PM said the NIH has a vast potential that needs to be further enhanced to serve as country’s premier public health department, with its own indigenous vaccine manufacturing and in-house research and development facilities.

Published in Daily Times, August 3^rd 2018.