LAHORE– The telemedicine centers established to provide free online consultation to the public in the wake of THE coronavirus pandemic, will now also provide consultation on reproductive health with a special focus on maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH).
A tripartite agreement was signed in this regard, on Monday, between the University of Health Sciences (UHS), the Punjab Population Innovation Fund (PPIF) and the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI).
UHS VC Prof Javed Akram, PPIF chief executive Jawad Ahmed Qureshi and WCCI president Lubna Bhayat were the signatories.
The agreement envisaged the provision of healthcare delivery especially reproductive health and family planning through telemedicine facilities across the province.
“These are difficult times but one needs to find opportunity in every difficulty,” said Prof Javed Akram, adding that telemedicine was the best method available to the public for approaching doctors in days of lockdown to avoid infections.
He further said that varsity intended to increase outreach and accessibility of the telemedicine services, especially to marginalized and venerable groups.
Highlighting the achievements of his organization, PPIF chief Jawad Ahmad Qureshi said that the agreement would provide support on maternal and newborn health to people living in remote areas of the province.
He was of the view that telemedicine was an excellent resource for providing quality clinical management to women at risk of poor pregnancy outcomes in geographically remote areas. He added that efficient utilization of the network for timely and appropriate care could pervert emergency.
WCCI president Lubna Bhayat said that telemedicine had so far proved to be a very effective and economical method of healthcare provision in days of Covid-19 pandemic. She attributed the success to UHS.
A training session was later organized by PPIF for doctors working in telemedicine centers that was facilitated by Dr. Aneeqa Mohammad and Ali Imran. Dr. Shehla Javed Akram, Prof Nasir Shah, and Amna Akhsheed also attended the session.