Meeting on Hepatitis Prevention & Treatment Program was held at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center (PKLI) Head Office on 6th December 2016. Minister for Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique, chaired the meeting along with Dr. Saeed Akhter, President PKLI to discuss the progress matters on the Hepatitis Prevention and Treatment Clinic (HPTC) which is scheduled to be launched at the end of this year. Dr. Saeed Akhter appreciated the efforts of all those concerned for moving the project on the designated fast track. While highlighting the importance of a PKLI (HPTC) project, Khawaja Salman Rafique stated that the close coordination of PKLI with several government departments is of extreme importance and must be carried out on regular basis.Issues such as injection safety and infection control, hospital waste management, mass vaccination of hepatitis B, treatment and care of the hepatitis patients, and education awareness on both healthcare providers and general public were discussed in detail. Dr. Saeed shared his vision of implementing the best standards and practices of World Health Organization in Pakistan. Khawaja Salman Rafique, while addressing the implementation of the various measures laid special importance on the legislation and advised those concerned to prepare a detailed plan. Representatives from several Government departments such as Health, PHC, Chief Minister Secretariat, were present to discuss issues related to construction of PKLI hospital complex building and HPTC clinic building. While dedicating a considerable amount of budget and efforts to the prevention side, PKLI’s prevention plan aims to have its own surveillance system linked with the surveillance system of Punjab for Hepatitis. It will also take measures to implement blood safety mechanisms for safe blood transfusion.
