ISLAMABAD. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday stressed the need for implementation of measures regarding the ongoing health-related projects on a priority basis in order to facilitate the common man.

“Poor and the middle class will be the biggest beneficiaries of the health card. Such a universal health coverage system is even not available in several developed countries,” he said.

The prime minister, newly returned from his trip to Russia, was presiding over a meeting on improvement of the health sector, when he described Naya Pakistan National Health Card was the “largest health sector programme in the history of the country.”

Officials informed the prime minister about the progress regarding the provision of health facilities and the ongoing projects at the federal government level, in Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They added that a large number of people in Punjab and KP were benefiting from free healthcare facilities.

The programme to control stunted growth in children, particularly in the rural districts of the country, also came under discussion.

Officials emphasised that an across the board monitoring of the child’s health would be carried out right from birth in order to improve maternal and child health. They said that the government would ensure the capacity-building of the nursing sector through training of international standards.

Due to the effective measures taken by the government, the rate of general vaccination of citizens had increased from 66 to 76 per cent, officials added. Also in Punjab, they said the rate of general vaccination had touched “over 91 per cent,” which was being recognised internationally.

Special Assistant to the PM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan and provincial health ministers Dr Yasmeen Rashid and Taimur Saleem Jhagra were also in attendance.