PM Imran Khan calls on overseas Pakistani healthcare professionals to help fight coronavirus

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday called overseas Pakistani health professionals to become part of the national fight against coronavirus.

"Pakistani health professionals are on the front-line in the fight against #COVID19 across the world. They also want to help us combat Covid-19 in Pakistan.  We have launched Yaran Watan initiative for our overseas health professionals who can now register to volunteer their services," the primer tweeted.

Pakistani health professionals are on the frontline in the fight against #COVID19 across the world. They also want to help us combat COVID19 in Pak. We have launched @YaranWatan iniitiative for our overseas health professionals who can now register to volunteer their services. pic.twitter.com/O0MkyDMNDs

- Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 25, 2020

On Friday, the federal government in collaboration with the diaspora health professionals  launched Yaran-e-Watan Initiative.

On the occasion, Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza said that the government was working hard in providing adequate national emergency response. He said that a critical shortage of different cadres in the health workforce remains a barrier to Pakistan in attaining its health system goals. The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged the entire world into a struggle.

The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MNHSRC) and Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD), in partnership with Pakistani and International diaspora organisations launched Yaran-e-Watan, Pakistan Diaspora Health Initiative, he added.

Dr Mirza said that Yaran-e-Watan will enable the exchange of knowledge and expertise by curating an integrated platform, developed by the National Information Board of Technology.

The initiative is aligned with the national vision to realise and mobilise the full potential of the Pakistani diaspora community, for the health sector development in Pakistan.

It will offer two-way engagement by connecting the diaspora or overseas Pakistani health professionals with volunteer healthcare opportunities at Pakistani institutions and healthcare providers.

As part of its first commitment, Yaran-e-Watan will launch Covid-19 emergency response to complement the national response during the Covid-19 outbreak.

These digital collaborations will facilitate the Diaspora healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, paramedical and allied health staff in providing their services remotely through telemedicine or telehealth companies and health Institutes and facilities in Pakistan.

Internationally, many Pakistani health professionals are serving in the frontline fight against Covid-19. Despite their commitments to their residing countries, they are willing to offer assistance to Pakistan.

The impetus for its development and the enthusiasm of the overseas Pakistani community to give back to the country instills the conviction that Yaran-e-Watan will become a new chapter in resurgence of the Pakistan's health sector, especially during these challenging times.

With inputs from APP