{"id":26294,"date":"2024-02-02T17:48:24","date_gmt":"2024-02-02T17:48:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/?p=26294"},"modified":"2024-02-11T14:41:49","modified_gmt":"2024-02-11T14:41:49","slug":"directorate-general-national-emergency-health-services-on-reinvigorating-mode-dg-opening-new-avenues-of-medical-tourism-women-empowerment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/directorate-general-national-emergency-health-services-on-reinvigorating-mode-dg-opening-new-avenues-of-medical-tourism-women-empowerment\/","title":{"rendered":"Directorate General National Emergency Health Services on Reinvigorating Mode &#8211; DG Opening New Avenues of Medical Tourism, Women Empowerment"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div class=\"\" dir=\"auto\">\n<div id=\":r8dk:\" class=\"x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1swvt13 xjkvuk6\" data-ad-comet-preview=\"message\" data-ad-preview=\"message\">\n<div class=\"x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u\">\n<div class=\"xu06os2 x1ok221b\">\n<div class=\"xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a\">\n<h5 dir=\"auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-26296\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Sabeena_NEHS_Emergency.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"371\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Sabeena_NEHS_Emergency.jpg 500w, https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Sabeena_NEHS_Emergency-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Sabeena_NEHS_Emergency-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Sabeena_NEHS_Emergency-265x198.jpg 265w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><strong>Interview; <\/strong><strong>Dr Sabeena Imran Durrani<\/strong><\/h5>\n<h5 dir=\"auto\"><strong>Director General National Emergency Health Services &#8211; Ministry of Health , Gov of Pakistan<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<h5 dir=\"auto\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em><strong>Tazeen Akhtar + Mustafa Khan \/ <\/strong><\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><em><strong>Pics &#8211; Asif Farooq<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n<h5>Health is Wealth &#8211; It is English saying. In Urdu we say &#8220;Tandarusti Hazaar Nemat Hay&#8221; &#8211; It is true that the richest person is who is healthy having no disease and all organs working good. Developed countries attach more funds with health system but in third world hardly one % of the national budget is allocated to health. Then comes the red tap and bureaucratic hurdles in the way to get easy treatment at different levels particularly during health emergencies. We discussed the same with Dr Sabeena Imran Durrani, Director General National Emergency Health Services (NEHS) &#8211; Ministry of Health , Gov of Pakistan.<\/h5>\n<h5>We have been highlighting during our extensive work on different sectors that there is so much duplicity and waste of human resources and finance in gov departments including NGOs. One task has been divided into 5 to 10 different departments organizations while somewhere all are doing the same with low or insufficient coordination, interaction and integration.<\/h5>\n<h5>The expenditures are multiplied but the result remains unsatisfactory. Same is the situation in health sector and particularly in a dept dealing with health emergencies . <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-26298\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Pakistan_Emergency_Health.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Pakistan_Emergency_Health.jpg 500w, https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Pakistan_Emergency_Health-300x172.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><strong>Pakistan is a disaster prone country therefore we have established National Disaster Management Authority to deal with all disaster related matters, its prevention, preparedness and response except health related matters which comes under the domain of NEHS, an executive dept of M\/o NHRSC.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<h5>Despite the fact that NHEPRC now renamed as NEHS is the most important dept but unfortunately its performance remain low due to multiple factors or we can say that this dept has not been utilised for the purpose it was established.<\/h5>\n<h5>Dr Sabeena Imran Durrani admitted that , &#8220;Yes ! duplicity and waste of finance is the dilemma in our country. we are good in making policies but the issue lies in its implementation and sustainability. She further said that the performance of NEHS remain unsatisfactory due to multiple reasons like leadership.<\/h5>\n<h5><strong>Since establishment of this dept she is the first DG who is a Permanent employee of this dept. In the past this seat was filled through deputation on temporary basis. As a result when this dept was not performing well, gap was created and this gap was filled by different departments thus the responsibilities of this dept were taken over by multiple other stakeholders.<\/strong><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-26297\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NEHS_Emergency_Health.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NEHS_Emergency_Health.jpg 400w, https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/NEHS_Emergency_Health-300x294.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/h5>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>After joining NEHS she is adamant to revitalize this dept and for this purpose she is in constant contact with the Ministry, struggling to operationalize her dept or convincing them to decide the fate of this dept not to keep it as a white elephant.<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<h5>She carries a bright record of high qualification in health sector and disaster management. She is Medical Doctor , having MBBS from Khayber Medical College Peshawar, MSc in Disaster Management from University of Leicester UK, Masters in Public Health, and Masters in Public Administration. She has started her career in M\/,o Population welfare then worked in Establishment division, National Counter Terrorism Authority NACTA and NDMA at responsible posts.<\/h5>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>What is the state of the concerned departments in a country that is the worst hit by climate change disasters , pandemics? The answer can be seen at National Emergency Health Services. currently Dr Sabina is facing a challenge to make her dept functional but how? when There is no staff and no funds and other resources at the disposal of the DG.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<h5>The number of staff at NEHS is 47 including 1 DG, 1 Director, 5 Deputy Directors but presently there is one DG supported by only lower staff with no single officer. The officers and officials of this dept are working in the ministry but getting their salaries from NEHS<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>We asked DG how you are working with no staff left here?<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<h5>Dr Sabeena replied,&#8221; I am conveying to all concerned about the plight of NEHS seeking their decision to make it operative or decide the fate of this dept, either we want to make it functional or abolish? For this we have requested the ministry to get performance appraisal of this dept to be done by MSW of establishment division., then decide the fate of this dept&#8221;<\/h5>\n<h5><strong>Dr Sabeena is not for a seat and salary only, she does not prefer post, perks &amp; privileges only. She wants to deliver. She has initiated different projects to serve the public in the health sector on her own.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"HzoOA7LCgF\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/tele-health-facility-effective-for-treatment-of-routine-medical-issues\/\">Tele-health facility effective for treatment of routine medical issues<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Tele-health facility effective for treatment of routine medical issues&#8221; &#8212; Pakistan In the World\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/tele-health-facility-effective-for-treatment-of-routine-medical-issues\/embed\/#?secret=8dThmev3n8#?secret=HzoOA7LCgF\" data-secret=\"HzoOA7LCgF\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>NEHS -NARC<\/strong> <\/span><\/h5>\n<h5>She has engaged her department with National Agricultural Research Council (NARC) in Botanical Gardening, Kitchen Gardening and Bee Keeping projects. She says , &#8221; These projects are for the health as well as for financial empowerment of the communities in case of disasters. I attach great importance to empowerment of women. Bee keeping is the best for women to raise finance for their households and it is very helpful after the disasters in restoration to life again.&#8221;<\/h5>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Medical Tourism<\/strong> <\/span><\/h5>\n<h5>Dr Sabeena emphasizes upon promotion of medical tourism in Pakistan. A large number of patients visit India, China from around the world for treatment. They have many national and international recognized hospitals. Pakistan has only 3 nationally recognized hospitals for that purpose.<\/h5>\n<h5>They are Shifa International Islamabad, Agha Khan Karachi and Shaukat Khanum Lahore. we need more Nationally accredited hospitals. She says, &#8221; We can offer international aspirants for Cosmetology, Dentistry, Organ Transplant and Cardiology. First two categories allow the patients to move around and visit the tourist sites during their treatment. Pakistan offers quality treatment, cost effective, less waiting time .<\/h5>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Medical Visa<\/strong> <\/span><\/h5>\n<h5>Dr Sabeena mentioned Medical Visa facility for who intends to visit Pakistan for medical treatment. Pakistan has started Medical Visa for long and short term categories. medical tourism initiative was started is in connection with economic outreach program initiated 3 years ago. Pakistan can earn huge revenue in foreign currency if medical tourism is promoted around the world.<\/h5>\n<h5><strong>Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation PTDC can discuss medical tour packages with registered tour operators for that purpose. Tour operators are willing to work on medical tourism.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"TCJ1KccdGx\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/comprehensive-school-health-programme-to-detect-and-diagnose-different-disabilities-at-school-level\/\">&#8220;Comprehensive School Health Programme to Detect and Diagnose different disabilities at School Level\u201d<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;&#8220;Comprehensive School Health Programme to Detect and Diagnose different disabilities at School Level\u201d&#8221; &#8212; Pakistan In the World\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/comprehensive-school-health-programme-to-detect-and-diagnose-different-disabilities-at-school-level\/embed\/#?secret=Lt51cQGAcX#?secret=TCJ1KccdGx\" data-secret=\"TCJ1KccdGx\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Collaboration with APPNA<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<h5>&#8220;The Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) is in contact with us for medical tourism in Pakistan. We have developed a website on which all information has been shared, Dr Sabeena Imran said.<\/h5>\n<h5>Here it is important to note that Pakistani Doctors have a big circle of their influence in USA from where a large number of Pakistanis visit their country for medical treatment especially dentistry for its cheap charges here. APPNA can amicably enhance the visitors in medical tourism system with their recommendation.<\/h5>\n<h5><strong>DG said, &#8221; The scheme was introduced in Dubai expo as well in 2022 . The participants appreciated it a lot.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"0wOfTejsYG\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/aral-sea-dilemma-and-its-psychological-health-impacts-by-dr-rabia-noor-azhar-pakistan\/\">Aral Sea Dilemma and its Psychological &#8211; Health Impacts &#8211; by &#8211; Dr Rabia Noor Azhar (Pakistan)<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Aral Sea Dilemma and its Psychological &#8211; Health Impacts &#8211; by &#8211; Dr Rabia Noor Azhar (Pakistan)&#8221; &#8212; Pakistan In the World\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/aral-sea-dilemma-and-its-psychological-health-impacts-by-dr-rabia-noor-azhar-pakistan\/embed\/#?secret=WvJhpby388#?secret=0wOfTejsYG\" data-secret=\"0wOfTejsYG\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Women Empowerment<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<h5>Dr Sabeena Imran attaches great importance to women empowerment by improving their skill. She advocates long term sustainable policies for women empowerment. She does not endorse cash support to women without linking it to school enrollment, Family Planning, vaccination and improving other social indicators etc.<\/h5>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Healthy Lifestyle<\/strong> <\/span><\/h5>\n<h5>As we are in touch with Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) in their campaigns on awareness about injurious affects of Sugary Drinks , Processed and Ultra Processed foods on human health, we asked DG how the people should be kept away from these things?<\/h5>\n<h5>She lamented that the health of next generation is not satisfactory. Most of our youth is malnutritioned and victim of different diseases at their early age.Mothers are busy in their activities and the kids are left upon the servants. Cerelac or cereal is considered complete nutrition for the kids that is not the fact.<\/h5>\n<h5>Media glorify processed foods in advertisements. Youth take it as ready to eat food. This is ignorance. She appreciated the efforts to raise awareness about the hazards of such foods among the people and to sensitise the people to adopt healthy life style activities, focus on balanced and nutritious diet .<\/h5>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"YxxVPdXynN\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/world-health-org-and-pakistan-sign-mou-of-cooperation-on-universal-health-coverage\/\">World Health Org and Pakistan Sign MoU of Cooperation on Universal Health Coverage<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;World Health Org and Pakistan Sign MoU of Cooperation on Universal Health Coverage&#8221; &#8212; Pakistan In the World\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/world-health-org-and-pakistan-sign-mou-of-cooperation-on-universal-health-coverage\/embed\/#?secret=msVoMDXsxL#?secret=YxxVPdXynN\" data-secret=\"YxxVPdXynN\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Population is Big Issue<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<h5>DG Dr Sabeena Imran has served as DG Population. population is a multisectoral issue and need multisectoral approach for its management. Rapidly growing unplanned population has a direct impact on our economy, climate change, health etc. Population is big challenge for our country where resources are limited and demand is high.<\/h5>\n<h5>We need to focus on local production of contraceptives as currently we are importing it, review pro-nationalist policies and linking up of social sector programs with mother and child health as family planning is a tool to improve mother and child health.<\/h5>\n<h5>An Integrated Approach I.e integration of Family Planning, RMNCAH and nutrition is required to improve the health of mother and child<\/h5>\n<h5>Separate departments are working on similar domains. This duplicity affects our response to the calamity. projects must be implemented where there is requirement or need rather than areas which are easy to go.<\/h5>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Fire Fighting Mode<\/strong> <\/span><\/h5>\n<h5>She mentioned that mostly we are in fire fighting mode which must be replaced with Pro active attitude. The focus should be more on prevention rather than treatment as prevention is always better than cure.<\/h5>\n<h5><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>We suggested her to come into politics after retirement and try to play her role at policy level as she knew about the impediments, gaps in the system and has a knowledge how to address the challenges. She laughed and said in her humble capacity she ll do whatever is required for her country and people . We need such promising and dedicated as well as highly educated women in our Parliament badly.<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/h5>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"NndcFx2w0r\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/cricket-board-promoting-sugary-drinks-that-are-detrimental-for-health-pnha-draws-attention-of-zaka-ashraf-in-a-letter\/\">Cricket Board Promoting Sugary Drinks that are Detrimental for Health -PNHA Draws Attention of Zaka Ashraf in a Letter<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Cricket Board Promoting Sugary Drinks that are Detrimental for Health -PNHA Draws Attention of Zaka Ashraf in a Letter&#8221; &#8212; Pakistan In the World\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/cricket-board-promoting-sugary-drinks-that-are-detrimental-for-health-pnha-draws-attention-of-zaka-ashraf-in-a-letter\/embed\/#?secret=fkqMMNDCex#?secret=NndcFx2w0r\" data-secret=\"NndcFx2w0r\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5 dir=\"auto\"><\/h5>\n<h5 dir=\"auto\"><\/h5>\n<h5 dir=\"auto\"><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"xu06os2 x1ok221b\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Interview; Dr Sabeena Imran Durrani Director General National Emergency Health Services &#8211; Ministry of Health , Gov of Pakistan Tazeen Akhtar + Mustafa Khan \/ Pics &#8211; Asif Farooq Health is Wealth &#8211; It is English saying. In Urdu we say &#8220;Tandarusti Hazaar Nemat Hay&#8221; &#8211; It is true that the richest person is who [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26296,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,84,85],"tags":[1723,2839,4663,2008,1047,1275,13,478,965,4657,354,335,4661,48,4662,1426,471,142,129],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26294"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26294"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26294\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26558,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26294\/revisions\/26558"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}