LAHORE, February 17: Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid highlighted the importance of patient confidentiality at a Seminar on Role of Media in HIV/AIDS Awareness at a local hotel here on Wednesday.
Present on the occasion were Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Captain (Retd) Usman Younis, Project Director Punjab AIDS Control Program Dr. Muneer Ahmed Malik and a large number of media persons. Dr. Muneer Ahmed Malik apprised the participants of the services provided by the Punjab AIDS Control Program.
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid said, “I appreciate Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Captain (Retd) Usman Younis for holding an important event for awareness on an important topic. We have decided to provide free HIV/AIDS medicines to private sector as well. The Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department is providing free of cost diagnostics, treatment and counseling services to more than 11,500 patients. The transmission of HIV/AIDs can be prevented and patients can live normal lives with use of medicines. Recently we have conducted HIV/AIDS tests of TB patients. We have made HIV/AIDS tests mandatory for TB patients. We are providing treatment to patients and maintaining their confidentiality. In order to facilitate patients of co infections while ensuring confidentiality of patients, we have started Insaf Medicines Cards. The HIV/AIDS test is voluntary and trust between doctor and patients is very important. We have started next generation sequencing machine in Punjab which will help in development of vaccines as well. As many as 22 new BSL-3 Labs were set up in Punjab during Corona Pandemic. Under Punjab AIDS Control, the centres will be expanded to 36 districts from 16 districts.”
Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Captain (Retd) Usman Younis said that provision of right information to media was being ensured. He appreciated the role of media for generating awareness about diseases. He also said the government has decided to introduce auto-disabled syringes to control blood born infections.
