Healthcare can be area of India-Pak Co-operation: Pak official

New Delhi, May 10 (UNI) Pakistan High Commission Minister (Trade) Fazal Abbas Maken today said he saw rich potential in the proposals from India for co-operation in medical education, clinical trials, traditional medicine, and export and import of medical equipment between the countries.

''The two countries could carry out a joint study on the role of the private and the public sector in healthcare management,'' Mr Fazal said speaking at the conference on opportunities of co-operation between India and Pakistan in the healthcare sector organised by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ASSOCHAM). He also acknowledged the need to standardise the medical education and facilities in both the countries.

He pointed out that the manufacture of medical equipment was being outsourced to both the countries from the developed world.

Hence, he said, ''If Japan could outsource the manufacture of its equipment to Pakistan and then sell it to India, why could India and Pakistan not purchase the same equipment from each other.'' He welcomed a team of doctors from India to Pakistan to see the manufacturing plants for medical equipment and hence gain confidence on the products.

Chairman of ASSOCHAM expert committee on Pakistan Ravi Wig suggested that the business chambers of both the countries form committees which can recommend financial assistance for people who cannot afford the cost of health care. He also stressed on medical student exchange programmes between both the countries.

ASSOCHAM President Anil K Aggarwal talked about joint venture in medical education, pharmacy, medical tourism.

AIIMS psychiatry department head SK Khandelwal harped on co-operation in psychiatric treament which he said formed 11 per cent of the world's medical health burden. He said that the two countries have cultural commonalities which help address psychitric problems.

International Clinical Epidemiology Network Chairman Dr Ranjit Roy Chowdhury stressed on a strict code of eithcs that need to be imposed for clinical trails which will be encountered majorly by both the countries in the near future.

UNI ARB RA DB2047