Category: Health

ATLAS COPCO EXTEND SUPPORT TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE AFFECTED AREAS.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir)  Atlas Copco, world’s leading provider of productivity solutions, has teamed up with ‘Transparent Hands’ to provide medical assistance in the flood affected areas, to play its part in rebuilding efforts as a good corporate citizen of Pakistan. It will be providing the preventive healthcare assistance and clean drinking water to the families present in the relief camps.

First medical assistance camp of the campaign was put up in Thatta Sindh, where around 600 patients were facilitated in a day, by the expert doctors, and were provided with check-ups, first aid, medicines, Hepatitis B & C Screenings, and Tests for Typhoid,  Malaria, Uric Acid, and  Cholesterol.

Sharing his thoughts, Mr. Sohail Shahzad, General Manager, Atlas Copco Pakistan said, “In this moment of national tragedy and calamity, our thoughts and prayers are with those affected. Floods have multiple effects on the life and livelihood of people, the contaminated drinking water is causing all kinds of health issues. Together with ‘Transparent Hands’, we are conducting medical camps in multiple remote areas where a team of trained doctors not only treats the patients but also provides them with free medicines and clean drinking water.“

The flood relief camp team is of 18 members, comprised of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, patient registrars, and support staff.  In the coming days the medical assistance will also be extended to effected areas of Mirpur Khas & Dadu districts.

He further added, “We at Atlas Copco, along with the support of our global offices, and not-for-profit organization “Water for All”, have always stood up everywhere in the world to support the communities and become a helping hand during natural calamities or challenges.”

“Water for All” is the community engagement initiative of Atlas Copco, managed through the dedicated employee volunteer workforce. The initiative funded projects are designed to provide access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. Since its start in 1984, the initiative has reached millions of people across the world, and “Water for All” chapters are present in over 50 countries now.

State Life Insurance Corporation Becomes Platinum Sponsor of Pinktober Ride for Breast Cancer Awareness

 Lahore (Nut Desk) Pakistan’s largest life and health insurer, State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC), partnered with Pink Pakistan Trust as a Platinum Sponsor for this year’s Pinktober Breast Cancer Awareness Ride held on Sunday, 16^th October, 2022. The Pink Pakistan Trust is a not-for-profit organization working for the cause of welfare, health and wellbeing of Pakistani women.

Pakistan has the highest breast cancer death rate in the Asian region, which is largely attributed to lack of awareness and the social stigma around the disease. By partnering with this initiative, SLIC aims to enhance the conversation around early detection and life-saving intervention through its Sinf-e-Aahan Cancer Protection (SACP) Plan for women.

Under this plan, women aged between 18 and 64 can benefit from financial protection against the hefty costs associated with cancer treatments. SLIC provides 100% payment of the sum assured upon diagnosis of cancer verified by provision of the histopathological report.

Speaking on the occasion, Shoaib Javed Hussain, Chairman, SLIC said, “SLIC takes immense pride in its partnership with Pink Pakistan Trust for Pinktober Ride, an initiative aimed at spreading awareness against cancer. Awareness, early detection & financial enablement is essential to combat cancer which SLIC aims to achieve through meaningful partnerships and by providing first-of-its-kind solutions to protect and empower women of Pakistan through its Sinf-e-Ahan Women Cancer Protection Plan. This plan protects women against the risk of cancer at unprecedented affordable rates. Such initiatives and innovations are crucial to fighting cancer as a nation”.

Civil Society asked Government for Their Meaningful Participation at Policy Level

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) For sustainable development and achieving SDGs by 2030, experts termed collaboration between Government and non-government stakeholders and effective role of CSOs in advancing localization, implementation and achievement of SDGs as the real game changers towards success.

These thoughts were expressed by development practitioners, civil society members and education champions in a Post HLPF consultation session on Pakistan’ VNR Report 2022, presented by the Government in UN’s High Level Political Forum in July 2022. The session was organized was Awaz CDS – Pakistan and Education Champions Network.

Awaz CDS-Pakistan engaged with education champions/ECN member organizations and other CSOs of the country to prepare an analysis of Government reporting and CSOs perspective on that and the same was presented in the consultation session.
Highlighting priority SDGs especially SDG 4 and 5 on Gender Equality and Quality Education, Civil society members expressed their dissatisfaction on Government’s focus on these SDGs in the VNR report.  

Chief Executive, Awaz CDS, Zia ur Rehman briefed the audience on the background and process of development of the Voluntary National Review report. He appreciated the incumbent government’s presentation of official VNR at the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF). He said that several concerns still exist on critical sustainable development goals (SDG) priorities in the absence of policy coherence, efficient implementation and review mechanisms.

According to him the report failed to capture and highlight the Citizens’ Voices on VNR process and progress on SDGs collected through stakeholders’ consultations. He stressed on the need of inclusion and participation of civil society representatives in the report making process for depiction of real on ground situation.

The Parliamentarians from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Saira Raza, Fauzia Abbas and Saira Jabeen participated in the event and appreciated the efforts and expressed need to put education and gender equality on priority and their plan to bring about a legislation and its implementation in this regard.

Program Manager-AwazCDS-Pakistan, Marium Amjad Khan, while sharing the CSOs perspective on official VNR 2022 and findings of the analysis of Government reporting said that Government has shared a number of good progress that has been made in recent times on SDG 4 and 5 but that’s not the complete picture. For example, in VNR reporting on SDG 4, Government is presenting the enrollment rate as a success while according to the UNICEF’s country profile 2022 adjusted net attendance rate for children of primary school age is only 62% whereas, it further drops at middle and secondary level to 33%.

CSOs representatives appreciated that there have been improvements in strategies action plans, policies and legal frameworks. However, the scale of these initiatives as well as monitoring and transparency mechanisms needs strengthening.
As far as SDG 5, Gender Equality, is concerned CSOs shared their perspective that several national and provincial legislations have been made for gender equality and women’s inclusion but these are not being practiced.

Civil Society representatives shared that Sustainable Development Ranking Report 2022 is showing that SDGs 4 and 5 are stagnant and not improving compared to last report. This also mirrors the lack of initiatives and financing to improve both sectors. Governments and all stakeholders should invest more in country’s 48% of population to minimize disparities to at least achieve near to half of the SDGs targets by 2030.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Atlas Copco, world’s leading provider of productivity solutions, has teamed up with ‘Transparent Hands’ to provide medical assistance in the flood affected areas, to play its part in rebuilding efforts as a good corporate citizen of Pakistan. It will be providing the preventive healthcare assistance and clean drinking water to the families present in the relief camps.

First medical assistance camp of the campaign was put up in Thatta Sindh, where around 600 patients were facilitated in a day, by the expert doctors, and were provided with check-ups, first aid, medicines, Hepatitis B & C Screenings, and Tests for Typhoid,  Malaria, Uric Acid, and  Cholesterol.

Sharing his thoughts, Mr. Sohail Shahzad, General Manager, Atlas Copco Pakistan said, “In this moment of national tragedy and calamity, our thoughts and prayers are with those affected. Floods have multiple effects on the life and livelihood of people, the contaminated drinking water is causing all kinds of health issues. Together with ‘Transparent Hands’, we are conducting medical camps in multiple remote areas where a team of trained doctors not only treats the patients but also provides them with free medicines and clean drinking water.“

The flood relief camp team is of 18 members, comprised of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, patient registrars, and support staff.  In the coming days the medical assistance will also be extended to effected areas of Mirpur Khas & Dadu districts.

He further added, “We at Atlas Copco, along with the support of our global offices, and not-for-profit organization “Water for All”, have always stood up everywhere in the world to support the communities and become a helping hand during natural calamities or challenges.”

“Water for All” is the community engagement initiative of Atlas Copco, managed through the dedicated employee volunteer workforce. The initiative funded projects are designed to provide access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. Since its start in 1984, the initiative has reached millions of people across the world, and “Water for All” chapters are present in over 50 countries now.

Pak-Qatar General Takaful and Mentor Health came into MoU aiming to transform the healthcare experience

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited (PQGTL) and Mentor Health held a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ceremony on 23^rd September 2022 with an aim to transform the healthcare and wellness experience of masses through digitally integrated health services.  Mr. Saqib Zeeshan (Deputy CEO, PQGTL) and Mr. Yusuf Ansari (GM Corporate Business Solutions & ADC, Mentor Health) signed the agreement along with senior officials of both companies.

While expressing his views at the signing ceremony, Mr. Saqib Zeeshan said, “We are delighted to partner with Mentor Health with a mutual aim of transforming the existing healthcare and wellness landscape which has immense room for innovation. I believe that these kind of partnerships will be instrumental to not only bring the positive change but help transform the way health solutions are obtained which eventually offers a simplified customer journey, help save lot of time, boost accuracy and more efficiency”. 

Mr. Yusuf Ansari while sharing his views stated that, “Mentor Health works in the Health tech space has revealed that the specific Human Centered Design methods are extremely effective in uncovering the unmet needs of our client’s customers. When we balance these needs against our client’s business ambitions and constraints, we have found that several emerging technology and product categories are capable of delivering very promising new engagement models that will enable insurers to dramatically recast their relationships with their clients to the advantage of both parties. I am sure, this partnership will work on many innovative models and the real goal of both organizations is to add value in customers’ lives.”

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) In continuation of its mission to support initiatives that benefit the community and healthcare system, Getz Pharma has joined hands with the National Association of Diabetes Educator Pakistan (NADEP) – Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology (BIDE). Under this partnership, informative workshops will be organized for healthcare providers to improve their clinical skills in treating diabetic foot ulcers among patients. Mr. Jumman Khan, Chief Commercial Officer – Pakistan Business, Getz Pharma, and Dr. Zahid Miyan, Consultant Diabetologist/Endocrinologist from BIDE-NADEP, signed the MoU at Getz Pharma’s Head Office in Karachi. Both organizations showed commitment to reducing the diabetes burden in the population through this initiative. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Jumman Khan said, “Our initiatives include proactively funding leading charitable and government-run hospitals to upgrade medical facilities, participating in screening and awareness camps and sessions on prevalent diseases; sponsoring annual reports and advertisements of charitable health organizations to increase awareness about their positive work, and providing lifesaving medicines at subsidized rates or free of cost to these organizations.” Dr. Zahid Miyan, on behalf of NADEP-BIDE, ensured that the institute faculty shall deliver workshops under their project ‘Save Limbs’ to train and educate healthcare professionals regarding foot diseases and appreciated Getz Pharma for sponsoring this academic initiative to prevent unnecessary amputations due to diabetic foot. He also shared findings from the 10th edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas 2021, according to which one in four adults (26.7%) in Pakistan are living with diabetes – the highest national prevalence in the world. Pakistan now has the third highest number of people living with diabetes (33 million) in the world, after China (141 million), and India (74 million). An additional 11 million adults in Pakistan have Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), which places them at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 50% of people living with diabetes are uncontrolled, which are leading them to high-risk diabetes complications. Foot ulcers are a major cause of morbidity and hospitalization in patients with diabetes. Studies show that the prevalence of diabetic foot ulceration is between 4% and 10% in Pakistan and the amputation rate following foot ulceration is 8–21%.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Sehat Kahani is proud to announce its position in the “100 to watch companies in Asia” by Forbes.

Forbes released its Asia 100 To Watch 2022 list this September. This list entails small, and medium-sized companies and startups in Asia addressing real-world challenges using modern innovation.

Sehat Kahani made its way to this list in the category of biotechnology and healthcare. It is the only Pakistani company to mark its position in Forbes 100 to watch in Asia this year. Sehat Kahani is a women-led organization that is making Pakistan and especially women of Pakistan proud and empowered.

Founded by Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram and Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga Sehat Kahani is a widely used Digital Health Care platform in Pakistan with the vision to democratize health care access for all using technology and a committed network of doctors with the commitment to enable flexible work opportunities for female doctors otherwise facing socio-cultural barriers to practice.

Sehat Kahani’s platform is a mobile application for mass consumers and corporations and operates as e-clinics for low-income communities.

ADAMJEE INSURANCE BRINGS UNLIMITED DIGITAL HEALTHCARE (OPD) SERVICES FOR ITS CUSTOMERS IN COLLABORATION WITH SEHAT KAHANI.

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Adamjee Insurance Pakistan’s Leading Insurance Company announced that it had signed an agreement with Sehat Kahani, a leading telemedicine platform aiming to provide health care (OPD) services as value added service to its existing and potential Health Insurance subscribers.

This collaboration, Adamjee Insurance as the leading general insurance coverage provider, its health Insurance portfolio having one of the largest market shares in Pakistan. With Sehat Kahani application to ensure 24/7 availability of a dedicated telehealth helpline for all the smart phones and non-smart phone users of the health and micro insurance products. In addition, a Special medical helpline will be created for those beneficiaries who do not have smart phones / or are unable to use the application. This dedicated helpline will facilitate users according to Pakistan Medical & Dental Council guidelines and will be available 24/7.

Speaking at the signing ceremony Mr. Ahmer Shoaib – Deputy Executive Director Adamjee Insurance said “We believe this alliance will help Pakistan to fulfill the health insurance needs by using technology”.

Further, Dr. Aliya Zia – Head of Health Insurance Deparment for Pakistan & UAE added her remarks on this occasion “With the help of Sehat Kahani, we plan to enhance the healthcare experience of our customers by adding Telemedicine Platform as Value Addition to our current portfolio.

Also, Dr. Sara Saeed, CEO & Co Founder, Sehat Kahani added, “We are thrilled to partner with the largest general insurance company of Pakistan. Having ourselves associated with Adamjee Insurance is a privilege, and we look forward to providing the same state-of-the-art telemedicine facility to Adamjee Insurance customers that has been a trademark for Sehat Kahani.”

 

 

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Martin Dow, a leading multinational pharmaceutical company of Pakistan commenced the 75th year of the country’s independence with a cause to save lives by carrying out a blood donation drive in collaboration with Indus Hospital.

Blood shortages are particularly acute in developing countries across much of the subcontinent, and Pakistan is no exception. Adequate and reliable supply of safe blood can only be assured through a stable base of regular, voluntary, and unpaid blood donors.

The primary goal was to facilitate the patients with blood donations for surgery, chronic illnesses, cancer treatment, and transfusions for blood loss from traumatic injuries. The donation drive was efficiently managed at Martin Dow Group Corporate Office starting from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Expressing his views about these camps, Shahrukh Masood, Group Director HR & Corp Comms, said, ‘Martin Dow believes that the opportunity marks a true test of leaders’ commitment to save lives and accelerate progress towards health care for all in our lifetime. The leadership has realized that their commitment to safety is higher than ever. A single bottle of blood can save 13 lives. Every donation makes a difference. Not only is this cause necessary, but also more important as it enhances social solidarity. It sends a powerful message of mutual aid, civic commitment and social buy-in to Health for All. For healthy adults, blood donation is not only safe, but provides a sense of belonging and pride, as well as a free health check-up.’

Highlighting the need for an adequate and reliable supply of safe blood, Shahrukh Masood stressed on the importance of raising awareness for safe blood and blood products for transfusion. The theme ‘Bleed Green’ was selected to highlight the critical contribution that unpaid blood donors make to national health systems, and to promote solidarity in voluntary blood donations.

Martin Dow rolled out a complete program for the volunteers to review the guidelines before, during, and after the blood donation, such as being mindful of hydration, eating healthy food, getting enough sleep, avoiding rigorous physical activity, and skipping smoking at least 30 minutes before and after the donation.