APPNA Receives Recognition as an Institution at Governmental Level in Pakistan
A delegation of APPNA met Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Governor House in Peshawar on December 28, 2019. President of Khyber Medical College alumni, Dr Rashid Hanif, Chair Board of Governors for American College of Physicians DrOmar Atiq and APPNA Secretary-Elect Dr Haroon Durrani were also present on the occasion.
Prime Minister Imran recognized APPNA as a driving force and lauded its members as the best ambassadors of Pakistan. Members of APPNA delegation thanked the Prime Minister and a group photo was taken at the end.
Healthcare and medical education in Pakistan were the main topics discussed in the meeting. As your representative, I proposed to the Prime Minister to create an official role for APPNA in healthcare and medical education in Pakistan at governmental and institutional level. This proposal was accepted by the Prime Minister.
This is the first time in the 42-year history of APPNA that it will be recognized at state level as an institution and will be collaborating to shape the healthcare policies in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Imran Khan agreed that APPNA will not only be given a seat at the table at Pakistan Health Care Task Force but will also be represented at Pakistan Medical Council. This indeed is a great achievement for APPNA's membership. Prime Minister Imran Khan assured the APPNA team that a meeting of this task force will be held in the near future and APPNA as an institution will be invited. A vote of thanks with enthusiastic support was given to the Honorable Prime Minister, Mr Imran Khan, from APPNA.
A similar proposal was presented to the Health Minister of Khyber PakhtoonKhawa, Dr Hisham, who agreed to the proposal and a follow-up meeting with the Health Minister and KPK Healthcare Task Force is scheduled for December 30th. Drs Rashid Hanif, Omar Atiq and Arshad Rehan will represent APPNA in this meeting in Peshawar. Dr Hisham informed us that a meeting of Federal Task Force is scheduled for next week under the leadership of Dr Nausherwan Burki, and APPNA as an institution will be invited there as well. Dr Omar Atiq presented a book on the history of the American College of Physicians.
This is a great opportunity for APPNA to have a voice in improving healthcare and medical education in Pakistan. I see this as a great stride for APPNA to be represented as an INSTITUTION at governmental level and not on individual basis.
I am grateful to Dr Zahid Aslam Awan and Dr Aamir Ghafoor Khan for their tireless work to support APPNA's efforts in the Peshawar meeting. I also thank APPNA team members who met the Prime Minister and provided valuable suggestions to improve healthcare in Pakistan.
The year ends with a great news and congratulations to APPNA's membership.
