Battling Covid-19: Health workers to be provided relief in taxes, says Mirza

(Karachi) Special Assistant to Prime Minister for National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza has said that the government has come up with a special package for frontline health workers who are fighting coronavirus pandemic in the country.

He added the health workers will be provided relief in taxes as part of the package.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Friday, he said the package has been prepared after consultation with all stakeholders including medical associations.

He maintained that it is the top priority of the government to protect the frontline health workers in the country. "Doctors and health workers will be given relief in tax returns while 5,000 of them will be provided training."

He added the package has been specially designed to facilitate the health workers who are risking their lives and performing duties in such difficult times. "The package will be for those health workers who are directly involved in treating coronavirus patients," Mirza highlighted.

He said, "No package can match up to the sacrifices the doctors and their families are making, but I will present the points of this package."

Mirza highlighted that the package is based on seven groups that consists of financial incentives, security of frontline health workers and doctors, training of medical professionals, support mechanism, healthcare of doctors and their families, incentives to be provided to private health sector and commemoration of doctors.

He stated said that medical professionals will be tested and provided healthcare and medicines on a priority basis. "If a family member of a health worker falls ill, the government will bear the cost of their treatment," he remarked.

"The amount of Shuhuda package for doctors and health workers ranges from Rs3.0 million to 10 million." The SAPM mentioned in a bid to ensure the security of doctors, the supply of protective equipment, including masks, PPEs etc will be ensured.