Punjab Minister for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Kh. Salman Rafique has said that strict and aggressive decisions should be taken to combat the most dangerous diseases like Hepatitis B,C. He said that legislation is being carried out in Punjab for this purpose and Punjab Hepatitis Prevention and Control Act 2017 is being introduced very soon for which Draft Law has been prepared.
He stated this while presiding over a meeting to discuss on the proposed draft law in the office of Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare, here on Saturday. Secretary P&SH Ali Jan Khan, DG Health Punjab Dr. Mukhtar Husain Syed , Consultant Law Department Dr. Mohsin Abbas, Director Punjab Hepatitis Control Program Dr. Zahida Serwar, representatives of PKLI, Punjab Healthcare Commission , Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Barbers Association and the officers of the P&SH also attended the meeting . Dr. Mohsin Abbas briefed the participants regarding the draft law. The stakeholders expressed their viewpoint on the proposed Bill. The draft law has encircled all the important aspects and points including introduction of auto distractive syringes , hospital waste management, dialysis, surgeries , organs transplantation, elimination of quackery , safe blood transfusion, training and capacity building of barbers, use of sterilized instruments, awareness, health education and vaccination of exposed and vulnerable segments of the society. Secretary P&S Health Ali Jan Khan said that all areas and aspects should be incorporated in the law. He observed that hepatitis B,C is a very serious issue of our society for which all the stakeholders have to work many times more vigorously Khawaja Salman Rafique said that quackery is the major cause of spreading infectious diseases like Hepatitis B,C and HIV AIDS. He said that a sever crackdown is needed to vanish quackery from the streets and roads for which strengthening of Punjab Healthcare Commission is also very important. He said that there is a need for behavioral changes for which health education and awareness among the masses is the need of hour. The minister said a comprehensive plan for awareness campaign through print, electronic and social media also be planed. Kh. Salman Rafique directed that a copy of the draft law should be provided to all the stakeholders who should prepare their recommendations /proposals after going through the draft after one week.