Lahore, December 19, 2017 – U.S. Consul General in Lahore, Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau, reiterated the U.S. Government’s support for further strengthening Pakistan’s health sector at a ceremony marking the hand-over of the first ever province-specific Public Health Supply Chain Strategy to the Punjab Departments of Health and Population Welfare.
The event also celebrated the launch of the updated Essential Medicine List and a new course on Public Health Supply Chain by the University of Health Sciences. USAID’s Global Health Supply Chain – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project provided support for these initiatives. Present at the event were Khawaja Ahmad Hassan, Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab, Professor Dr. Mahmood Ayyaz, Principal, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, and Professor Dr. Faisal Masud, Vice Chancellor, University of Health Sciences.
“The United States Government recognizes that investment in the Pakistani people and strengthening the capacity of the Government of Pakistan to deliver essential services are two vital components for improving health outcomes and ultimately saving lives,” remarked Consul General Trudeau. “I am hopeful that our collaboration will lead to improved maternal, newborn, child and adolescent healthcare in Punjab Province,” she added.
The Supply Chain Strategy, finalized with assistance from the USAID-funded GHSC-PSM Project, will serve as a roadmap to bridge the gaps in the current health supply chain. Supported by the USAID project, the Punjab Government has revised the Essential Medicine List in line with the World Health Organization’s 2017 standards.
The University of Health Sciences’ new three-credit public health supply chain course will create a local cadre of public health supply chain experts. The initiative will go a long way towards expanding the supply chain management capacity within Punjab’s public-sector, introducing opportunities for youth to adopt a new academic discipline.
