BD, Pakistan discuss health coop, investment, pharmaceuticals

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Monday urged Pakistani entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh’s health sector as the two countries discussed expanding cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

The minister made the call when Pakistan High Commissioner Imran Haider met him at his office at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

The meeting covered issues of mutual interest, including cooperation between the two countries’ health sectors, finalisation of a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), pharmaceuticals and skills development for health professionals.

The two sides also discussed expanding trade in surgical equipment and pharmaceutical products.
Sakhawat Husain said Bangladesh had scope to further increase exports of vaccines and cancer medicines to Pakistan.

During the meeting, the Pakistani envoy briefed the minister on several proposals for cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan in organ transplantation.

He also informed the minister that GIMS had expressed interest in providing training to Bangladeshi doctors in liver transplantation.

The institution had also proposed assisting with liver transplant surgeries in Bangladesh in the future, as well as providing post-operative care through telemedicine, he said.

The discussions covered both investment and technical cooperation, with skills development and specialised medical services also featuring on the agenda.