ISLAMABAD: An Iranian delegation, comprising senior officials from Ministry of Health and Medical Education, called on Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar on Tuesday to discuss Pak-Iran cooperation in the field of health.
The delegation was led by Dr. Mohsin Asadi Lari, Special Assistant for International Affairs to the Health Minister.
Other delegates included Dr. Mahmood Reza Miribanjar, Vice Chancellor for Zahidan Medical University in Iran and Dr. Akbar Abdullahi Asal, Head of Federal Drugs Regulatory Agency of Iran.
The delegation also included Fereshte Zeraati, Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Health, Iran, says a press release issued here.
The Iranian delegation expressed keen desire to forge a strong partnership in the area of disease control and medical education.
Iran also offered to train Community Health Workers and epidemiologists, considering high level of expertise in the area available with the Ministry of Health Iran.
It was also agreed in the meeting to form a joint committee to meet periodically and alternately in both countries in order to benefit from the experiences and define appropriate mechanisms to materialize agreements of the two parties as well as discuss, negotiate and exchange ideas to move forward.
The Minister discussed regarding mutual collaboration in the area of disease control and prevention. It was jointly agreed to strengthen the Pak-Iran-Afghanistan Malaria (PIAM) network and make joint efforts for malaria vector control.
Pakistan and Iran are working together as part of the ECO and G5 said the Minister emphasizing that both countries can fully exploit the potential these two forums have to offer.
The Minister informed the delegation regarding vaccines being currently produced at the NIH. Possibility of Pak-Iran collaboration in basic manufacturing of vaccines was discussed at length.
Iran offered to work closely with Pakistan and Afghanistan in the area of Polio Eradication.
In this context, Iran offered Oral Polio Vaccine for Pakistan's Polio Eradication Program and expressed desire to work closely with both Pakistan and Afghanistan - polio epidemic countries in the region.
The Iranian delegation evinced keen interest in the area of vaccine production. They informed that Minister that the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has tasked the Ministry of Health to produce all vaccines in Iran by the end of his term in office.
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