The Head of Oncology Singapore Region of an international institution Novartis Mr. Francis Bouchard called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at Arfa Karim Software Technology Park, here today. Special Assistant Khawaja Salman Rafique, Dr. Ramesh Kumar, head of Hindu Council, Chairman Planning and Development, Secretaries Health and Finance, Country Director Novartis Shafique Ahmed besides Dr. Faisal Masood, Prof. Mehmood Shaukat and other concerned officers were present. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Punjab government and Novartis to provide medical and healthcare to cancer patients. The MoU was signed by Secretary Health Arif Nadeem on behalf of Punjab government, while Country Director Oncology of Novartis Shafique Ahmed signed on behalf of Novartis.
Talking on the occasion, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that no act of faith can be better than serving the ailing humanity. He said Punjab government is spending billions of rupees to ensure provision of modern medical facilities to the common man. He said, apart from making substantial increase in the salaries of medical staff, including doctors, Punjab government has allocated billions of rupees for provision of free-of-cost medicines to poor patients at government hospitals. He said collaboration between Novartis and Punjab government is a welcome sign. He said that MoU between Novartis and Punjab government is a positive step and pointed out that as many as 13 medical centers are operating in Punjab to provide healthcare to the cancer patients. He said new medical centers for cancer patients would also be established in Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Services Hospital Lahore. He said Punjab government realizes the financial constraints faced by cancer patients with regard to medical expense, due to which Punjab government is vigorously endeavoring to provide better health facilities for treatment of this deadly disease. He said signing of MoU between Punjab government and Novartis is part of the same process and pointed out that Novartis International is performing extraordinarily to provide effective healthcare to the cancer patients.
Talking on the occasion, the Head of Oncology of Novartis, Mr. Francis Bouchard said that steps taken by Punjab government for improvement of health sector are highly laudable. He said that he has come to Lahore and Pakistan for the first time, and has been greatly impressed by Lahore’s progress and sanitation. He said, as a result of steps taken by the Punjab government, Lahore has become one of the developed cities of the world. During the meeting, a detailed briefing was given by Novartis on its social activities and steps taken by it to provide effectual medical treatment to the cancer patients.